Recruitment of medical staff under way, Governor says

What you need to know:

  • Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said they had already advertised for various positions including those of doctors.

The county is seeking to recruit more medical staff to address the shortage in public health facilities.

Speaking in Gilgil on Friday, Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said they had already advertised for various positions including those of doctors.

He admitted that the issue of staff shortage was a challenge for the county and will be addressed by the current recruitment.

The governor said there have established more hospitals, which need more staff.

Mr Mbugua said since they assumed office, they had embarked on building new health facilities and renovating some of the existing ones.

“We acknowledged the need to increase the number of medical personnel especially nurses and that is why we have started an open and transparent recruitment exercise,” he said.

He stressed the need to expedite the hiring process to “ease the shortage burden,” with majority of current staff forced to work overtime.

A survey by the Nation in Naivasha Sub County health facilities painted a grim picture of primary care facilities - dispensaries and health centers - being understaffed.

Seven out of the 15 facilities cannot offer laboratory services, for lack of lab technicians, and have a nurses-deficit of 27.

“At least 37 additional nurses needs to be recruited and posted at the primary care facilities,” said a source.

Five newly built and fully equipped facilities are yet to be opened due to a lack of staff.