BADIN: Police have booked a woman doctor for violence against the area incharge of polio workers at her private clinic near LUMHS diagnostic laboratory the other day.

According to reports, polio workers’ area incharge Fatima Shah and her colleague Mehrun Nisa of the Union Council-Badin 03 went to the clinic of Dr Zarqa for administering polio drops to the children of her daughter-in-law.

When the accused refused to get the children vaccinated, the volunteers went back and reported the matter to their bosses who provided them police guards and asked to revisit the family.

When the polio workers visited the hospital again and asked the accused for vaccination to the children, she became furious, abused them and slapped incharge Fatima Shah before the police guards who remained helpless.

An FIR number 569 under Section 353, 186, 504 PPC was registered on behalf of the state against Dr Zarqa. Police have arrested the accused.

When this reporter contacted Badin DHO Anjum Soomro, he said healthcare workers, professionals and individuals participating in the critical vaccination campaigns, such as polio eradication efforts, deserved respect and protection.

Any act of violence, especially from a professional doctor who should embody care and responsibility, could affect public health efforts, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024