Mandera health workers threaten to go on strike over unpaid allowances

Health workers in Mandera have threatened to go on strike due to what they term as failure by the county government to give them allowances agreed on in 2013.

The workers who spoke to the Nation on condition of anonymity accused the county Health executive of failing to honour the agreement.

“We agreed then to continue working after the county promised to implement the agreement but it is now two years and nothing has happened. This is why we are rehearsing for the big day on February 3, 2015 when we will start a major strike of the health workers in this county,” said a clinical officer.

He said the agreement signed between them and the Mandera County government was all about allowances.

Governor Ali Roba’s administration agreed through the executive for health Hassan Eymoy to pay hardship, travel, house and uniform allowances.

SPEAKING IN ONE VOICE

“The only language this county will understand is a strike and for the first time we are speaking with one voice and as a team.

“This because whether you have been seconded by the national government or employed by the county the suffering is the same,” said the clinical officer.

He accused the county government of dividing them on the nature of employment when there are issues they want addressed.

A spot check at the Mandera Referral Hospital indicated that patients remained largely unattended.

Services at the outpatient department continued at a slow pace.

“I was admitted here three days ago but the doctor has only checked on me twice. This worries me,” said Ali Mohamed a patient at the hospital.

Halima Ali Isack, a mother with her child at the outpatient department said she had spent the whole of Wednesday morning at the facility and was yet to be attended to by mid-day.

“My son fell sick yesterday (Tuesday) evening and I am here seeking treatment for him but there is only one nurse on duty who walks in and out of the treatment room. We are many here and I am wondering when my son will be treated,” said Mrs Isack.

DENIED GO SLOW CLAIMS

Mandera Referral Hospital head of nursing Ibrahim Maalim Isack denied that there was a go slow at the facility.

He said all issues raised by the health workers had been dealt with by the county government at a meeting on Tuesday chaired by the county executive for Health.

“Yes there have been issues over the allowances but our employer has resolved them and assured us that by the end of this month there shall be something to smile about,” said Mr Maalim.

He said the services at the facility and in the other health centres within Mandera were going well.

Facilities that had been closed down after the 2014 terror attacks that left 64 people dead have also been reopened, he said.

“We have almost all our staff back on duty and the few absent are away for genuine reasons and not because of security matters,’’ said Mr Maalim.

Unlike teachers, health workers have opted to go back to work after their salaries for December 2014 were freezed by the county government on the grounds that they never worked.

“We are back since we don’t have a strong union to fight for our rights like the teachers as the county government decided to freeze our pay until we report back,” said a nurse who requested not to be named for fear of victimisation.