Daily Times

LAHORE: Nurses’ protest entered fourth day on Thursday as their demand of “Health Risk Allowance” is not yet addressed by any government official, Young Nurses Association (YNA) announced to observe hunger strike across the province if their grievances not addressed within 36 hours.

It is pertinent to mention here that “Health Risk Allowance” had been provided to doctors after they staged protest demonstrations. YNA is of the view that nurses and doctors’ life faces same level of risk, so the allowance should 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 are pressurising them to call off the protest.

While protesting against 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 HPA of merely Rs 1,500 was not enough for nurses who care for patients.

YNA have also boycotted their indoor and outdoor duties of public hospitals which severely affected service delivery in hospitals. 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 their protest had also blocked the 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 have vowed to continue to protest until the fulfillment of their demands.

The nurses urged the government to endorse service structure and maintain health allowance as early as possible. They also demanded early restoration of suspended colleagues. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf women activists also joined the nurses’ protest and expressed unity with them.