ISLAMABAD: The sit-in protest of lady health workers (LHWs) continued in the capital for the sixth consecutive day on Monday for acceptance of their demands, including a pay rise and protection for polio workers.

Hundreds of lady health workers are still present at the edge of the Red Zone and staging the protest under the open sky without availability of food, water and other facilities.National Programme of Health Employees Federation President Rukhsana Anwar told Dawn that the protesters were determined to continue the sit-in till their demands were fulfilled.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan sent his representatives to talk to the LHWs, she added.

“They asked about our demands and we handed them a draft. They informed us that the health secretary had been called for discussion on our demands.”

There are about 500 LHWs in the sit-in even though conditions at the venue are not suitable,” she said, adding: “We are in a state of war and under such circumstances no one thinks about food, water and other things.”

She said none of the LHWs was getting salary and as a result they were short of money. “We take roasted corns and gram for meals.”

Due to unavailability of water, the protesters have to walk for kilometres to drink water, Ms Rukhsana said. Besides, the protesters use toilets at the metro bus station and and a petrol pump which are also far away.

“Earlier, the toilets had been closed for the protesters but now we are allowed to use them,” she added.

The protesters have 10 demands, which include restoration of the National Programme of Family Planning in its original condition, equal bonus and pay for employees in all the provinces.

The protesting women said it was unjust that the salary for lady health workers in Sindh was Rs35,000 and in Punjab it was Rs20,000. They demanded the creation of a service structure and service rules for all the employees.The issue of the LHWs was also raised in the Senate by Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq.

Mr Haq regrated that hundreds of women had been sitting on the road under the open sky but neither the prime minister nor the president had taken notice of it. He said the amount which was being spent by the rulers in protecting themselves by placing containers should have been diverted towards the LHWs.

“For God’s sake, go and talk to them and apologise to them,” the JI senator said.

Responding to Mr Haq remarks, Minister Ali Mohammad Khan said he and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak had already held several rounds of talks with the protesters.

He said they had assured them that a committee would be formed to look into their demands and the provinces would also be asked to resolve their issues since health was a devolved subject.

The minister said the protesters wanted reinstatement of some sacked colleagues, besides an increase in their salary and protection for the polio workers.

“We are with them on most of the demands and in contact with the Punjab government in this regard,” he added.

The minister said they had told the protesters that reinstatement of the LHWs was a sub judice matter and the government cannot make any immediate decision on it.

He said the prime minister had also been informed about the situation.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2020