MULTAN: The success of five-day polio vaccination campaign being launched today (Monday) in the province is at stake as the National Programme Health Employees Association has announced boycotting it in protest against suspension of workers from service.

The district health authorities announced that 900,491 children would be vaccinated during the campaign in the district.

Sources say that although the authorities have made alternate arrangements; however, the alternate staff is not aware of the procedure to vaccinate the children while the number of available staff as compared to required staff is also low. They say the district health authorities have failed to provide required material and information to the alternative staff who is unaware of numbering of houses made by the boycotting staff. They say so far 102 cases of polio have been reported in the country and chances of more cases of polio would grow in case of ineffective campaign.

The sources alleged that Epidemics Prevention and Control Programme district coordinator Dr Attaur Rehman had misled the officials concerned about sufficient arrangements of alternative staff for the campaign in the district, however, the staff was not trained.

Lady health workers are also protesting against the suspension of four lady health supervisors besides two lady health workers, namely Rukhsana Noor, the Punjab president of National Programme Health Employees Association and a driver.

The protesters demand immediate restoration of their suspended colleagues and announced boycotting the campaign as the government had failed to restore the suspended staff.

Deputy Commissioner Aamer Khattak asked the protesting employees to end their protest and boycott of the campaign as it was their national responsibility.

Dr Rehman was not available for comment despite several attempts while Rukhsana Anwar said the protesters could join the campaign only if the government accepted their demands.

“We have requested the government several times to hold negotiations with us and that our demands should be met but no one from the government side is willing to hold negotiations,” she said.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2019