MARDAN, Dec 27: The Lady Health Workers Association on Thursday announced to boycott the future polio campaigns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa until the government provided vaccination workers with foolproof security, permanent jobs and grant up to Rs1.5 million each in case of death.

The announcement was made by provincial president of LHWA Almina Iftikhar during a news conference at Mardan Press Club, where district president of the association Roshan Mehboob, district general secretary Abida Khan and a large number of LHWs and EPI employees were also in attendance.

Ms Almina condemned the recent attacks on polio workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh and held the government responsible for them.

She also regretted that World Health Organisation and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund stopped its staff from doing duty during the polio campaign but they were left in the field without support and thus, falling victim to violence.

The provincial LHWA president said LHWs were targeted for working for better child health but the government neither provided them with foolproof security nor did they were given a reasonable financial support and other facilities.

EPI Association, Mardan president Alamzeb Khan said EPI staff had received threats to their life in Mardan city’s Shamozai, Taktbai, Gujraat, Bashkhali, Katlang, Sawaldher, Baghdada and Gulibagh union councils.

He demanded early arrest of and strict action against the culpable people.

Ms Almina and Mr Alamzeb demanded foolproof security for LHWs during polio vaccination campaigns, regularisation of services in line with the orders of the Supreme Court and Rs1.5 million grant for them in case of death.

They also urged the government to provide job to one of the family members of the slain LHWs each besides bearing the cost of their children’s education and utility bills.

The two said boycott of polio vaccination campaigns by LHWs would continue until their demands were met.

Also in the day, district coordination officer Zakaullah Khattak directed National Programme for Family Planning, Mardan coordinator Dr Salim Bacha during a meeting to prepare the list of LHWs boycotting polio vaccination campaigns.