Catholic Ms. Fazilat Lal was accused of launching an anti-Islamic campaign when she was promoted to head of nursing at the Services Hospital in Lahore two years ago.
“In my professional career, I’ve never covered my face like the other nurses. Some employees started lobbying against me, accusing me of inspiring Naqab utaro muham. [Remove naqab]“Lal told UCA News.
“The campaign lasted a month. But I survived with the support of other colleagues. Despite the Hippocratic Oath, the religious element in the nursing profession is enforced in our country. Christian nurses are often exposed to religious prejudice. They are overworked and are teased by their colleagues. “
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Kiran Manzoor, another Catholic nurse, described similar challenges at Mayo Hospital, one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Lahore.
“Muslim staff are particularly preferred to non-Muslims in government hospitals. There is no forum to address the injustices we face and share our problems. We continue to serve out of fear and disappointment in our leaders, ”she said.
Since her younger sister was tortured in a private hospital a few years ago, her husband has forbidden her from engaging in religious discourse at work.
Christian missionaries pioneered the health and education of women in Pakistan
“She was accused of promoting incest to celebrate Valentine’s Day. She tried to explain the Christian understanding of God as love, but was slapped in the face by the head nurse of the ambulance. Her husband and husband visited the hospital officials to explain their position, ”Manzoor said.
Her family did not report the incident to the media in order to protect the woman’s job and safety. However, three blasphemy allegations against Christian nurses have already been reported this year.
On April 27, Muslim nurses at a Lahore mental health clinic occupied a chapel in the facility used for Sunday services after accusing a Christian nurse of blasphemy by broadcasting an “obnoxious” video to an unofficial WhatsApp group owned by a nurse had.
Police arrested two Christian nurses on April 9 after a doctor at Faisalabad Civil Hospital prepared an initial informational report under Section 295-B of the Blasphemy Act accusing them of scratching a sticker that read “Duurod Shareef”. a greeting for the prophet Mohammed.
In January, Christian nurse Tabitha Nazir Gill was beaten and stripped for alleged blasphemy at a hospital in Karachi, Sindh Province, where she had worked for nine years. The nurse, known for singing gospel hymns in Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, hides abroad.
Human rights groups say there has been an increase in blasphemy cases recently in Pakistan, where blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue. The accused are sometimes lynched by mobs before they even go to court. Another problem is forced conversions and marriages of Christian girls in Punjab and Hindu women in Sindh Province.
In 2019, a 30-year-old Christian nurse, Saima Sardar, was shot dead by a Muslim in Faisalabad District Hospital after she refused to convert to Islam and marry him.
Christian missionaries pioneered the health and education of women in Pakistan. An estimated 60-70 percent of nurses in Pakistan belong to the Christian community. Pakistan has more than 160 registered nursing homes with most of the students belonging to the Christian community.
In 2003, Fazilat Lal helped the Archdiocese of Lahore build a Christian community of sisters with the support of a Maltese nun and Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore.
“Over 60 nurses attended the monthly meetings at the bishop’s home. However, the union fizzled out in 2011 with the resignation of Archbishop Saldanha, ”she said.
Both Lal and Kiran Manzoor were among the more than 250 Christian paramedics, nurses and doctors attending a seminar at St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School in Lahore on June 19.
Archbishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore paid tribute to her for her service during the coronavirus pandemic. Caritas Pakistan staff together with 10 priests distributed roses to the participants. “You are our heroes. May God protect you ”, it says on a banner.
Several participants referred to the recent blasphemy allegations against Christian nurses and their conversion to Islam.
Her suggestions included Christian gatherings, Easter events, faith education programs, Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing in Catholic-run hospitals, and career counseling for youth.
Archbishop Shaw urged them not to spread the gospel in hospitals.
“There is no need to evangelize during office hours. It is dangerous; avoid it. Show your faith through your ministry. There is a difference between healthy dialogue and critical analysis, ”he said.
Archbishop Shaw, who is also Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Multan, Punjab Province, is planning a similar meeting in Multan. St. Paul’s daughter, Sister Shamim Inayat, a member of the Catholic Women’s Organization, coordinates with the local nurses.
“Based on our discourse, we will try to find solutions to your challenges. Christian girls who work in factories around Multan face similar challenges. We urge them not to share their freedom with Muslim employees. We also encourage parents to develop deeper relationships with their working daughters in our openly religious society, ”said Sister Inayat.
source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/the-challenges-of-christian-nurses-in-pakistan/
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