NOWSHERA/KARAK: Hundreds of lady health workers on Friday blocked GT Road for hours to press the authorities for regularisation of their services and payment of withheld salary.

They warned they would boycott the upcoming anti-polio campaigns if demands were not met.

Holding placards and shouting slogans against the government, the protesters marched on Nowshera roads and gathered at Shobra Chowk before blocking GT Road for around four hours to all kinds of traffic.

“The provincial government appears to be least bothered about the plight of poor LHWs, who have always performed duty diligently under precarious circumstances,” said Zakia, who led protesters.

Protesters Kawsar Jabbin and Farida said it was unfortunate that the Supreme Court had ordered the government to regularise the services of LHWs but the order had yet to be followed.

They also complained about denial of salary for many months and alleged the chief minister and DHO were responsible for creating hurdles to the due payments.

The protesters said they’d not received salary since May this year though they’d regularly done duty.

“We are poor people, so it is impossible for us to manage household expenses under the current circumstances,” Farida said.

She said LHWs won’t participate in the upcoming anti-polio campaigns until regularisation of their services was notified.

The protesters blocked the road for around four hours. The relevant officials tried to pacify them but to no avail.

The LWHs later dispersed peacefully warning they would agitate if their demands were not met before Eidul Azha.

In Karak, LHWs and lady health supervisors on Friday demanded the immediate release of salary withheld for two months and regularisation of services.

They warned they would agitate and set up a protest camp outside the offices of the district health officer if their demand was not met within a week.

The demand was made during a meeting of LHS-LHW Association here.

District president of the association Kalsoom Sultana chaired the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2015

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