The health workers also announced to hold protest sit-in outside the parliament house on 25th. — File photo

PESHAWAR, Oct 21: Demanding regularisation of their jobs and payment of withheld salaries lady health workers (LHWs) and lady health supervisors (LHSs) from across the province on Friday staged a protest demonstration here.

The protesting health employees blocked Sher Shah Sori road for all kind of traffic causing problems for the commuters in the provincial capital. During their hours long sit-in on the main road, they were holding placards and banners inscribed with their demands. The LHWs and LHSs threatened to boycott the upcoming polio vaccination campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if their demands were not met.

Led by Ayesha Hassan from Peshawar and Noor Jehan from Mardan, the health workers also announced to hold protest sit-in outside the parliament house on 25th.

They maintained that they would not budge from their demands of regularisation of jobs, having a proper service structure, and payment of withheld salaries for the last four months. They informed that they were also not paid their 5 months dues for serving in anti-polio campaigns. They added dues in lieu of their services to mother and child healthcare were yet to be given to them as well. MANSEHRA:

The lady health workers and health supervisors would boycott the upcoming polio campaign starting from Oct 24 to protest against the executive district officer (health) and the non-payment of salaries and outstanding dues.

The health workers said they were compelled to boycott the vaccination campaign after the EDO (health) Dr Mohammad Siddique warned them of termination from service, sources told Dawn on Friday.

Sources said the LHWs and LHSs had held a meeting with the EDO the other day to apprise him about their difficulties, but the EDO told them he was angry over their protests and rallies.

“I have no other option but to terminate you from services as you held rallies and refused to take part in the polio vaccination campaign,” sources quoted Dr Siddique as saying.

Sources said a delegation of the LHSs would meet minister and secretary health in Peshawar on Monday and apprise them about what they said the rigid and non-cooperative attitude of Dr Siddique.

The health department has hired the services of teachers to administer the polio drops to children in the district during upcoming polio vaccination campaign. This correspondent repeatedly contacted Dr Siddique on his telephone and also sent message for this version but he did not respond.