Nurses in the country are calling on the government to expeditiously resolve the grievances raised by medical officers, citing the dilemma in the hospitals due to the absence of doctors
The Kenya National Union of Nurses wants the government to fully implement the 2017 collective bargaining agreement decrying the wanton suffering of patients in most health facilities in the country .
While speaking to the media its secretary general Seth Panyako wants president William Ruto to reign in the matter with speed to avert more health risks in the country with the doctors strike entering its 21st day.
” Doctors cannot work without nurses and nurses cannot work without doctors. The nurses can only man dispensaries which are a small unit in the administration of medical aid to patients. When a chronically ill patient comes to nurses where will we get instruction if doctors are on strike. So we ask President Ruto to end the doctors strike by meeting the end of the government bargain.” Panyako said.
The nurses have also castigated the governors and the health CS demanding the doctors to resume work.
”The doctors have the right to go on strike if their rights have been violated. It is provided for in the constitution.”
The reconciliation committee formed to end the ongoing nationwide doctors strike has been given 14 more days to continue negotiating in a bid to end the countrywide strike.
A request has been granted by Justice Byrum Ongaya after hearing from all parties.
The strike notice issued by KMPDU he said will remain suspended on condition that parties conclude and file in the court the Memorandum of Understanding on minimum safety services in the event of a strike by doctors in public health institutions.
KMPDU have accused the govt of lack of seriousness on the issues bedeviling the health sector urging the govt to fully honor their demand anchored in the 2017 Collective bargaining agreement
This as the union through its secretary general Davji Atellah has turned down the latest government 2.4 billion shilling offer out of a 4.9 billion to post medical interns.