PML PRESS RELEASE, March 27, 2011, Islamabad
1. National Program for Family Planning and Primary Health Care of the Lady Health Workers (LHW) was launched in 1994 by Benazir Bhutto.
2. PML supported and expanded this program in its tenure successfully.
3. Currently, approximately 130,400 LHW staff are working across all of Pakistan.
4. LHW are responsible for achieving MDG goals for Pakistan
2. PML supported and expanded this program in its tenure successfully.
3. Currently, approximately 130,400 LHW staff are working across all of Pakistan.
4. LHW are responsible for achieving MDG goals for Pakistan
* One LHW is responsible for approximately 1000 people, or 150 homes
* In 1990 Under 5 mortality rate was 140 (per thousand live birth). Now it has dropped to 77. MDG target is 52.
* Infant mortality rate has dropped to 65 in 2009-10 from 102 in 1990-9 whereas MDG target is 40.
* Contraceptive prevalence rate has been decreased to 1.9.
* LHW contributed significantly in 2005 Earthquake rehabilitation and 2010 floods.
* Polio reduction is a result of their untiring immunization efforts.
* In 1990 Under 5 mortality rate was 140 (per thousand live birth). Now it has dropped to 77. MDG target is 52.
* Infant mortality rate has dropped to 65 in 2009-10 from 102 in 1990-9 whereas MDG target is 40.
* Contraceptive prevalence rate has been decreased to 1.9.
* LHW contributed significantly in 2005 Earthquake rehabilitation and 2010 floods.
* Polio reduction is a result of their untiring immunization efforts.
5. LHW have been fighting for their salaries and regularization since December 2009. They have held many protests nationally. They are currently paid a pittance of Rs 3,200 per month which is below the minimum wage Rs 7,000 for achieving MDG goals for Pakistan.
6. On September 4, 2010 Supreme Court on the petition of Ms Bushra Arain, Chairperson All Pakistan Lady Health Worker Employee Association gave orders to consider LHW as labour and to minimize their pay at Rs 7,000. Government has not implemented todate.
7. PML MNA Marvi Memon has been supporting their struggle since June 3, 2010 when she attended their protest at Parliament House Islamabad and was tear gassed during her hunger strike along with thousands of LHW. The protest concluded successfully with Federal Health Minister giving Ms Bushra Arain written Assurance of their regularization within 3 months. Despite this date passing government did not honour their promises.
8. As a result of no salaries being given to LHW there were some suicides of LHW namely the one funeral MNA Marvi Memon attended personally in Multan in October 2010.
9. Next there was a protest in Karachi infront of Governor House by LHW in Jan 2011 which she attended on their invite. CM Sindh gave Bushra Arain assurance that he would get regularization done from PM within a week. This deadline was also missed.
10. Finally since most of these LHW are sole bread earners for their families they decided they had been given enough missed commitments and they decided to launch the final desperate protest by blocking Punjab Sindh border on March 23 early morning at Obaro. MNA Marvi Memon joined them on their invitation. During this 22 hour blockade LHW allowed ambulances and people in emergency to pass through.
11. As a result government reacted by breaking the protest through male police tear gassing and baton charging women; looting the belongings of LHW. MNA Marvi Memon’s vehicle, personal purse were impounded and 3 personal staff jailed.
12. Despite high level promises and false announcements on TV, 40 LHW and MNA Marvi Memon staff have not been released todate and nor have their personal belongings. Malafide cases have been registered against all of them under Terrorist Act.
13. Government for political victimization purposes tried to give wrong information that there were deaths of passengers during the blockade which media proved on the spot as untrue since no bodies were produced. Murder cases against MNA Marvi Memon have been falsely registered.
14. LHW Chairperson has announced polio boycott, mother child week boycott, vaccination boycott, monthly report boycott. And also a ‘jail bharo tehreek’ in each district.
6. On September 4, 2010 Supreme Court on the petition of Ms Bushra Arain, Chairperson All Pakistan Lady Health Worker Employee Association gave orders to consider LHW as labour and to minimize their pay at Rs 7,000. Government has not implemented todate.
7. PML MNA Marvi Memon has been supporting their struggle since June 3, 2010 when she attended their protest at Parliament House Islamabad and was tear gassed during her hunger strike along with thousands of LHW. The protest concluded successfully with Federal Health Minister giving Ms Bushra Arain written Assurance of their regularization within 3 months. Despite this date passing government did not honour their promises.
8. As a result of no salaries being given to LHW there were some suicides of LHW namely the one funeral MNA Marvi Memon attended personally in Multan in October 2010.
9. Next there was a protest in Karachi infront of Governor House by LHW in Jan 2011 which she attended on their invite. CM Sindh gave Bushra Arain assurance that he would get regularization done from PM within a week. This deadline was also missed.
10. Finally since most of these LHW are sole bread earners for their families they decided they had been given enough missed commitments and they decided to launch the final desperate protest by blocking Punjab Sindh border on March 23 early morning at Obaro. MNA Marvi Memon joined them on their invitation. During this 22 hour blockade LHW allowed ambulances and people in emergency to pass through.
11. As a result government reacted by breaking the protest through male police tear gassing and baton charging women; looting the belongings of LHW. MNA Marvi Memon’s vehicle, personal purse were impounded and 3 personal staff jailed.
12. Despite high level promises and false announcements on TV, 40 LHW and MNA Marvi Memon staff have not been released todate and nor have their personal belongings. Malafide cases have been registered against all of them under Terrorist Act.
13. Government for political victimization purposes tried to give wrong information that there were deaths of passengers during the blockade which media proved on the spot as untrue since no bodies were produced. Murder cases against MNA Marvi Memon have been falsely registered.
14. LHW Chairperson has announced polio boycott, mother child week boycott, vaccination boycott, monthly report boycott. And also a ‘jail bharo tehreek’ in each district.
PML DEMANDS
1. Immediate withdrawal of all cases against MNA Marvi Memon, her staff and all LHW.
2. Immediate release of all protestors from jail.
3. Immediate return of all personal belongings of all protestors
4. Immediate Regularization of LHW so they don’t boycott any MDG related activities
2. Immediate release of all protestors from jail.
3. Immediate return of all personal belongings of all protestors
4. Immediate Regularization of LHW so they don’t boycott any MDG related activities
–
Regards,
Mushtaq Ahmed Khan
Press Secretary to
Mushahid Hussain Sayed,
Press Secretary to
Mushahid Hussain Sayed,
Secretary General
Pakistan Muslim League
Pakistan Muslim League
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