15 days after suspension,health workers given chargesheet

Meanwhile,angry at having been made the scapegoat in the whole incidence,the health workers of Lucknow district have boycotted the immunisation programme and plan to boycott the next Pulse Polio drive in Lucknow if the suspension of the three ANMs is not revoked.

“We have been suspended to save the skin of the higher officials,even though we are not at fault,” said Virendra Kumar Dwivedi,the president of the Health Worker Association (Male). “Though we are not holding dharna,we have boycotted all immunisation programmes,even as we do other work,” said Damyanti Singh,secretary of the Health Worker Association (Female).

On August 21,when four children died in the village at Mohanlalganj immediately after vaccination for measles,the state government had suspended the three ANMs,including Christina Charan,Akhtari Bano and Usha Verma as well as the cold chain in-charge of Mohanlalganj CHC,CP Yadav. However,the state government claimed after preliminary investigations that the ANMs had a long working experience and they did not seem to be at fault for the Mohanlalganj deaths.

CMO Dr AK Shukla said: “We have served them the chargesheet. They have to give their reply within the next 15 days after which necessary steps will be taken.”

On the other hand,Director General,Family Welfare,Dr SP Ram said: “The suspension of the ANMs should be postponed as prima facie they do not seem to be at fault. According to the final reports,the steps will be taken.” According to health officials,very few children were immunised in Lucknow on Saturday.