Boycotting typhoid vaccinationHealth assistants call strike from Oct 1

Health assistants have announced a strike across the country from Oct 1 to press for their six-point demands.

They will also boycott the nationwide typhoid vaccination campaign that starts on Oct 12.

Their demands include: changes to recruitment criteria, placement in 14th grade, promotion to 11th grade through in-service diploma training, recognition as technical staff, and regular promotions to higher grades.

On Sunday, the Bangladesh Health Assistant Association (BHAA) submitted a memorandum to the Director General of Health Services.

The association said health assistants carry out vital vaccination work at the grassroots level to protect against 10 deadly diseases. Although it is technical work, they are not given technical status and face pay discrimination.

The health assistants say their demands were approved by the then-prime minister in 1998, but were never implemented.

Since then, they have repeatedly staged protests and suspended them after promises from ministers and health officials, but no action was taken.

Fazlul Haque Chowdhury, a leader of the association, said they are starting a new programme after repeatedly being given false hope, deciding to go with a nationwide shutdown.

“From Oct 1, we will stop EPI and all other activities,” he said.

He added that a memorandum would also be submitted to district civil surgeons and Upazila health officers on Sept 29 and 30.