MANSEHRA: Lady health workers (LHWs) boycotted duty here on Wednesday in protest against attack on one of their colleagues by a man during the recent anti-polio drive and demanded of the police to lodge FIR against the accused.

The LHWs threatened to extend their protest across the province if the man was not booked and arrested immediately.

“I along with other colleagues was administering polio drops to children during the door-to-door campaign in Makria area, when a man refused to administer polio drops to his child. When I attempted to pursue him to get his child vaccinated, he along with other men and women of his family attacked me,” LHW Nusrat Bibi told reporters here on Wednesday. She alleged the man also threatened to strip her publicly.

Ms Bibi alleged the accused, Mohammad Naseer also attacked her with a shovel and his family’s women pelted her with stones, causing her injuries.

“When I brought the incident into the notice of my officers, they settled the matter at the Rural Health Centre, Shinkiari, instead of taking legal action against the accused,” she said.

Ms Bibi alleged since the incident occurred the family of the accused had been harassing her. “To my astonishment the perpetrator got registered an FIR against me, and threatened me and my colleagues of dire consequences. When I approached the Shinkiari police, the officials refused to book him and his family members,” she said.

Meanwhile, Farzana Iqbal, president of association of supervisors of LHWs, said if an FIR was not lodged against the attacker, they would also join their subordinates in their strike.

“We strongly condemn this incident, and would come onto roads if the police don’t lodge an FIR against the man,” she said.

Ms Iqbal said two women polio workers were assassinated in the past while vaccinating children, and feared if prompt action was not taken against the man the situation would create a sense of insecurity among the LHWs.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2023