Dimapur, Oct. 13 (EMN): Nagaland Association of Community Health Officers (NACHO) has launched phase-wise agitation from October 11 to the 17 in protest against unresolved issues regarding unpaid salary and performance based incentive (PBI) to certain CHO since April 2022.
The agitation has been necessitated following alleged failure of Health and Family Welfare department and National Health Mission (NHM) in particular to resolve the issue even after repeated notices and ultimatum.
A NACHO press release jointly issued by its president, Semakchang, and the general secretary, Chumrenthung N Ezung, informed that the affected CHO would continue total cease work under the slogan 'No Pay, No Work' indefinitely until the issue is resolved, while the unaffected CHO would show solidarity by wearing black badge on all official duty and programmes.
NACHO has threatened to intensify its agitation after the first phase if the issue is not resolved within the stipulated period. It stated that the agitation would be limited to when and if the issues regarding unpaid salaries and PBIs are released. It, therefore, urged the public to bear with the inconveniences during the agitation period.
NACHO stated that a total of 105 community health officers (CHO) working at different health and wellness centre (HWC) in rural areas of Nagaland have not receive salary and PBI since April 2022.
It stated that CHO is a health worker, who is appointed under Ayushman Bharat (NHM) for comprehensive healthcare at grassroots. It mentioned that CHO takes up the responsibility that is considered less than a doctor and more than a nurse. Their job responsibilities range from the clinical aspects to the managerial functioning of the health and wellness centers (HWC) including promotion of public health, prevention and disease surveillance.
NACHO stated that CHO have been posted all over Nagaland in the hard-to-reach and far flung areas rendering selfless services to the community bringing healthcare closer to their doorsteps by providing 24x7 services, emergency, non-stop trainings at the block and district-levels with minimal resources, without proper infrastructure, water supply, electricity, internet connectivity etc.
It stated that CHO are facing untold hardships even to meet their basic needs due to non release of salaries. NACHO added that has demoralised the whole cadre taking into account the failure of the department to release their rightful salaries for the past six months.
In the light of the above mentioned circumstances, NACHO has decided to immediately cease work. It informed that the members would not be able to provide services to the public until their due salary is paid.