MANSEHRA: The lady health workers (LHWs) and other health employees who took part in about seven anti-polio vaccination campaigns this year have not been paid their dues so far.

“The government has been making tall claims of eradicating polio in the country but it is unfortunate that the employees of the health department and about 800 lady health workers who have taken part in seven anti-polio campaigns this year are still deprived of their honorarium,” said Farzana Iqbal, the district president of LHWs, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday.

She said that majority of LHWs were from poor families and living in difficult circumstances. She said that every worker was paid Rs2,000 for each polio round.

“Even some of our LHWs have not received their dues for polio rounds held in 2010,” she said.

LHWs Mansehra president asks govt to resolve the issue

Ms Farzana said that the workers had been doing their duty with dedication despite their financial problems, but the government should realise their problems and release the money.

“Majority of LHWs wants to go on strike, but we would not do so as eradication of polio is a national cause and we would not hamper the planned campaigns,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, Tariq Hussain, the district superintendent of vaccination, said that non-payment of honorarium to the vaccinators in 2014 had been affecting the polio eradication campaigns.

He said that the government had also been withholding Rs15 million dues of health workers and LHWs who took part in a measles drive held in May this year.

Meanwhile the three-day special anti-polio campaign in high-risk areas of the district would start from Monday (tomorrow). The campaign would cover 13 high-risk union councils, including Mansehra rural, Inayatabad, Dodial, Shinkiari, Battle and Chaterplan Balakot, Garlat, Gari Habibullah, Ghanool, Kawai, Mahandri and Kaghan.

MAN KILLS MOTHER: A man allegedly killed his mother and injured brother over a monetary dispute in Torghar on Saturday.

Police said that the incident occurred in Mori Kundar area where one Inamullah allegedly shot dead his mother Roheezar, and then shot and injured his brother Sultan Zabeh when he put up resistance. The Judbah police registered the case and have started search for the suspect.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2014