Daily Times

LAHORE: The nurses of Mayo Hospital on Friday called off their strike after assurance from the police high ups that they would take legal actions against Young Doctors Association (YDA) activist Dr Sheryar.

A large number of nurses from Mayo Hospital boycotted their medical services on second day against the misbehaviour of YDA doctors and other issues. The nurses held a protest rally on the issue and marched towards The Mall while other nurses moved in front of Secretariat building where they staged a sit-in, blocking the road.

The protesters on the occasion also carried placards and chanted slogans against Dr Sheryar and other YDA doctors. A massive traffic jam on main roads of the city as well as its surrounding areas was observed. The citizens were trapped on the different roads for several hours due to the protest against the YDA doctor’s behaviour.

Upon being informed about massive traffic jam on the city roads due to the protest, senior police officers reached the spot and started negotiation with the protesting nurses. The police officers gave them assurance that they would take legal action as per law on their complaint against Dr Sheryar at the earliest. After assurance, the nurses called off their strike and dispersed peacefully.

On Thursday, the nurses of Mayo Hospital held a protest demonstration against Young Doctors Association (YDA) Mayo Hospital chapter for forcing them to join their protest against the government.

The nurses boycotted their duties in indoor and outdoor wards as well as the emergency ward of Mayo Hospital. Their boycott caused a great deal of problems for the patients in the hospital, especially the emergency ward.

“The hospital’s YDA leaders threatened nurses in operation theatres, which is unacceptable,” said a protesting nurse, adding that the protest would continue until young doctors tender their apology to the nurses.

The Young Nurses Associations (YNA) members said that they would go on strike at different public hospitals in the province till their concerns were addressed. They said that nurses on duty at the emergency ward and the intensive care unit would continue to perform their duties, adding that strike was called at Mayo Hospital on Thursday in protest against a doctor who allegedly used abusive language for nurses.