MARDAN: Lady health workers took to the streets here on Monday to press the authorities for regularisation of their services.

Over 200 LHWs led by their provincial president Saeeda Feroz and Mardan chapter general secretary Ilfam Saleema marched from the district headquarters hospital to the Mardan Press Club and blocked the busy Shamsi road there for around two hours. They chanted slogans against the government and in support of their demands.

Saeeda Feroz, the provincial president, while addressing the protesting LHWs, said that they had not been regularised by the government despite the fact that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had clearly ordered for their regularisation.

She complained that the LHWs had performed duties during anti-polio campaigns and other related diseases but the relevant authorities had not paid them their duty arrears for the last several months.

Ilfam Saleema said that the LHWs had boycotted the anti-polio drive due to nonpayment of dues, but the district administration was forcing them to perform duties without their consent. She lamented that LHWs belonged to poor families and non-payment of salaries had severely affected their daily lives.

The protesters dispersed peacefully when the district health officer Abdul Khaliq visited the spot and held talks with them.

The DHO assured the LHWs of conveying their grievances to the high-ups of health department for speedy action.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2014