ISLAMABAD: Sajida Waqar was sitting on a bench while her husband was standing in a queue to take a slip for her checkup at Polyclinic.

A resident of Multan, Sajida Waqar, 24, was visiting the hospital along with her husband for the third time during the last one month. She is participating in PAT’s sit-in, which has been continuing since August 15.

“My wife is pregnant and has been suffering from weakness and low blood pressure for the last few weeks,” Sajida’s husband, Waqar Ansari, said.

Medical camps set up at the protest venue cannot cater to pregnant women

He said he was hopeful that the government would accept PAT’s demands within three or four days. “I was not expecting that the sit-in will last this long, otherwise I would have never requested my wife to come with me,” he added.

He said he was working with Minhaj Welfare Foundation in his native district so it was necessary for him to participate in the protest.

“It is difficult for me to allow my wife to go home alone and I am unable to leave the place as I mark attendance of other employees and the followers at the sit-in,” he added.

“I hope the government and PAT leadership succeed in the dialogue process, because the doctor has advised my wife to take proper rest during the pregnancy,” Ansari said. Like Sajida Waqar, Aneela Rehman, 35, a resident of Faisalabad district, is present in PAT’s sit-in along with her family.

“Due to my pregnancy, my suffering has increased. I am residing in unhygienic environment and it is difficult for me to breathe easily,” Ms Rehman said.

“I feel weakness due to unavailability of proper food at the sit-in. At the same time it is difficult for me to take care of my children due to my health,” she added.

She said her father-in-law was a follower of the PAT chief and he believed that this was Jihad against the “corrupt government of the PML-N”.

“Medicines, relevant to pregnancy, are not available at the medical camps established by PAT organisers at the sit-in. The lady doctor gives me prescription to take medicines from the market,” Rehman explained.

Ali Raza Babar, a paramedical staff of the Minhaj Welfare Foundation, told Dawn that around 39 medical camps, including three for women, were operational outside the Parliament House for the welfare of the participants of the sit-in.

He said pregnant women visit these camps for treatment. These women are also referred to government hospitals as well as doctors, who are PAT members, in the twin cities.

“We don’t have injections, such as Folic Acid, which are used to provide energy during the eighth month of the pregnancy,” he added.

Babar also said some private medical companies were donating medicines, which can be used for fever, flu, chest and throat infections.

Dr Sadaf Bokhari, who recently completed her house job at Mayo Hospital in Lahore, has been treating patients at PAT’s sit-in since August 15.

Bokhari said around 50 to 60 pregnant women have visited the medical camps at the sit-in during the last one month.

She and some other lady doctors have been referring them to major hospitals as the camps lacked proper medicines for pregnant women.

“Almost all the participants of the sit-in are suffering from fever, chest and throat infections. It is very difficult for the pregnant women to stay for such a long time, as it is dangerous for their health,” Bokhari added.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2014