Health workers protest arrests in capital

[Angel]

Protesting the suppression of the peaceful agitation of health workers in the capital, health assistants all over the country staged demonstrations and halted services today.

Demanding immediate release of those arrested in the capital, participants of a rally in Gaur, Rautahat, chanted slogans against the health minister and went around the city.

All services, except emergency services, have been closed in the district office hospital, the chairperson of the joint struggle committee, Pramod Gupta, said.

In Bara, some 200-health workers padlocked the gate of the district public health office. They also staged a demonstration in Kalaiya today.

In Gaighat, health workers padlocked offices of all health institutions today. Primary health centres at Beltar, Katari and emergency services in the district hospital are, however, open, a hospital source said. Rural people suffering from diseases like dysentery, common cold, and fever have been affected due to the closure of health posts. Chief of the district public health office, Dr Raman Prasad Singh, said the demands of health workers have been forwarded to the ministry. In Dhading, health services in rural areas were affected as health workers are up in arms for a week now.

In Sarlahi, health workers staged a demonstration in Malangwa today to protest against the suppression of the peaceful agitation. A rally staged after padlocking the district health office went around the city. Demanding amendment in the Nepal Health Service Act, assistant health workers all over the country have been agitating since June 27.

Source: Himalayan News Service, Kathmandu, September 12 2006