Anti-polio staff without relief in the field

Rawalpindi : Despite experiencing heat-related health issues and high workloads, anti-polio staff in Rawalpindi receive no support to brave extreme heat conditions. They sit to have some relief wherever they find shade.

“Almost every day in different parts of the city we conduct the Polio Immunisation campaign for children aged 0-5 years. We make door-to-door visits to administer polio drops to ensure no child is missed,” says Atiyyah Hussain. “While the initiative garners praise from all quarters, the tireless efforts of Polio nurses who walk kilometres under the scorching sun, go unnoticed,” adds Atiyyah.

“Our duties require us to be out in the field whenever ordered. We the Polio nurses have to cope with heat stress daily, while we diligently go about our work in the community,” says Feryal Abbas. “Carrying a four-kilo bag slung from my shoulder, I trudged one kilometre to a locality in Dhoke Kamal Din to administer polio drops to a three-year-old child. Before setting out, I applied ointment to my shoulders and neck, as prolonged sun exposure can trigger a skin allergy,” says Nazia Batool, a middle-aged Polio nurse.

“I drink plenty of water, yet I feel thirsty all day. Summer has not fully arrived yet, but I have been experiencing dizziness, and my haemoglobin levels have dropped over the past month. That’s why I have started carrying fruits with me these days,” adds Nazia. Ashal has served as a Polio nurse for the last many years. Each summer seems to be more challenging than the last, yet I have not received any assistance from the health department. “It’s the least I expect from the department that keeps me overworked every single day,” laments Ashal.

“My home visits extend beyond administering polio drops. As part of my duties, I visited the homes of 39 families, raising awareness about the children’s health and assisting them with comforting words. I am also responsible for administering vaccines to new-borns,” says Zainab. “The combination of my workload and the oppressive heat exacerbates my fatigue to the extent that I struggle to fall asleep each night,” adds Zainab.

“Working on hot days also means decreased productivity. I have been experiencing heat burns, dehydration, body aches, skin allergies, and urinary tract infections. It is not even summer yet. But I have been feeling extremely hot,” says Sania Naqvi, a Polio nurse. “The fatigue, body pain, and discomfort create a deadly combination, making it challenging to complete my work. There are days when I work for long hours, entering data for children,” adds Sania. Ummul Banin says, “While the families provide chilled water and fruits to us on the field as an acknowledgment of our service, the health department has never considered such a gesture. I also carry necessary medical kit when I’m on fieldwork.”