The challenges of Christian nurses in Pakistan

Catholic woman Fazilat Lal was accused of initiating an anti-Islamic campaign when she was promoted to nursing superintendent at Services Hospital in Lahore two years ago. “During my professional career, I never covered my face like the rest of the female nurses. Some staff members started lobbying against me and accused me of inspiring ‘Naqab utaro muham’ [Remove naqab],” Lal told UCA News. “The campaign continued for a month. But I survived with the support of other colleagues. Despite taking the Hippocratic Oath, the religious element is enforced in the nursing profession in our country. Christian nurses often face religious bias. They are overworked and teased by their co-workers.”