Daily Times

LAHORE: The protest by Young Nurses Association entered its fourth day on Thursday with their demand for “Health Risk Allowance” yet to be addressed by the government. Young Nurses Association (YNA) said they would observe hunger strike across the province if their grievances were not addressed within 36 hours.

“Health Risk Allowance” had been provided to doctors after they staged protest demonstrations, and YNA was of the view that nurses and doctors’ lives faced similar levels of risk. Therefore, the allowance needed to be given to nurses as well.

The protesters also chanted slogans against the hospital administration for not approving their basic demands. YNA leader said that the medical superintendent, chief nursing superintendent and nursing superintendent were pressurising them to call off the protest, expression frustration at the government’s apathy.

YNA leader Nusrat Cheema fainted due to hot and humid weather. The YNA has announced continuing the sit-in till acceptance of all demands. YNA President Rozina Manzoor said that the meagre HPA worth Rs 1,500 was not enough for nurses who cared for patients.

YNA also boycotted their indoor and outdoor duties of public hospitals which severely affected service delivery in hospitals. The nurses’ strike also caused postponement of several minor elective surgeries in public sector hospitals of Lahore. The protesters chanted slogans against the hospital administration for not approving their basic demands.

Their boycott had caused many problems for the patients in public hospitals and blocked roads causing problems for traffic. Mall road, Ganga Ram hospital road and Davis road had traffic jams. YNA was protesting for their longstanding demands for pay-scale up gradation, service structure reform and health risk allowance provision. The nurses vowed to continue to protest until their demands were met.

The nurses also demanded early restoration of suspended colleagues, and leaders of various political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Pakistan People Party (PPP) also joined the nurses’ protest and expressed solidarity with them.The protesters warned that if the government did not entertain their demands properly, they would cease to work at all emergency wards.