What harms polio program?

Nepotism, non-professionalism, and authoritarianism may hinder both Sindh and Pakistan from achieving polio-free status, as local managers are reportedly abusing the FLWs, while, EOC spokesperson has rejected all allegations

JAMSHORO: A group photo of polio workers from PTP M9 Toll Plaza, Jamshoro, who were allegedly terminated to accommodate authority’s relatives and friends.—MM file photo

By Imtiaz Hussain

JAMSHORO: The residents of Jamshoro have demanded that the authorities to maintain check and balance in the polio program funded by various international donors, including WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Rotary International. They allegedly accused that the local polio staff are being manipulated and abused by their immediate supervisors.

The residents claimed that the program is being daunted because of some severe issues, including corruption, nepotism, incompetency, and politically influenced staff, while the highly paid management is just portraying to work to eradicate polio but in actual, they are the big hurdles in achieving the common goal. They said the frontline polio workers, who are the backbone of polio eradication program but unfortunately being treated as the slave or authorities’ personal servants.

A resident, Prof. Munir Ahmed, told the Daily Metro Morning that recently, nine experienced polio workers of Permanent Transit Point (PTP) at M9 Toll Plaza, Jamshoro, were terminated to allegedly accommodate authority’s own people. Professor said whatever the reason rendered by the management to take such a harsh decision to terminate the services of highly experienced staff, including Supervisor Imran Hussain, having about 8 years work experience in polio program.

Munir asserted that such non-professional attitude could only cause harm to the program, adding that the authorities terminated those nine staffers during the polio campaign without charging them for concrete reasons or prior notices. He said it would be alarming that the staff were working in the night shift while the duty timing is 12 hours a day, which sheer violation of Geneva convention that protects the rights of the people as well as the employed persons.

The professor also claimed that those vacancies were connivingly vacated by the local authority to hire or accommodate their akin or favorite individuals against all odds and complete violation of the criteria. He further elaborated that the management had not yet provided basic facilities, drinking water, electricity/solar, umbrella, and required furniture at the workplace. A few months ago, during the WHO team visit, the management threatened the workers not to demand anything nor to complain in front of the visitors about any mismanagement.

Meanwhile, upon reaching out to the Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Sindh spokesperson Nofil Naqvi regarding the issue, he categorically denied the allegations, terming them baseless and arbitrary. The official also made a counterclaim, stating that all evidence against the allegations would be provided, including details on fair recruitment and the provision of facilities to workers at PTP. Regarding the termination of staff, Naqvi claimed that the workers in question had not performed their duties according to the SOPs. Despite various warnings and show-cause notices, they failed to meet the required criteria.