OKARA: The district health authority on Saturday suspended the entire duty staff of Gogera Rural Health Centre (RHC) after a protest by family members of a pregnant woman who died because of lack of treatment on Friday night.

Nasim Akhtar w/o Sabir Bhatti was brought to the Gogera RHC on Friday night for delivery where no female staff and lady doctor were present and the woman had a stillbirth and she died due to lack of treatment.

On Saturday morning, the woman’s family members along with locals blocked Okara-Faisalabad Road for more than an hour, demanding action against the RHC staff.

Chief Executive Officer Health Dr Mahar Akhtar Balooch reached the health centre, called the protesters who dispersed on his assurance and suspended the entire staff from service.

The CEO formed a committee headed by a senior doctor to probe into the matter.

PROTEST: A large numbers of rickshaw drivers blocked road against what they alleged Rs100 daily extortion (‘bhatta parchi’) by men of the contractor.

The drivers demanded that MC administrator/deputy commisioner Irfan Ali Kathia take notice of the activities of the contractor. — Correspondent