Nurses' strike enters Day 7
The national nurses’ strike has entered its seventh day, with some of them taking to the streets to demand action on a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) their union signed with the government.
The health workers from various parts of the country on Monday staged protests in Nairobi to push for the implementation of their Sh40 billion CBA.
STANDOFF
They appealed to President Kenyatta to intervene and help resolve the standoff between the them on one hand, and the Council of Governors and the Health ministry on the other.
They castigated the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for what they called “interference in the matters of employers and their employees.”
Patients seek services at Langalanga Health Centre in Nakuru. The facility's eight nurses are on strike. PHOTO | MAGDALENE WANJA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The SRC last week dismissed and threw out the Sh40 billion CBA, saying it is unrealistic, unaffordable and cannot be implemented.
The striking workers also took issues with the new Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Josephat Nanok, accusing him of being a stumbling block to talks to end the job boycott.
Mr Nanok has called on the caregivers to resume work as talks to end the paralysis continue, but nurses have dismissed him.
The health workers in Nairobi were expected to march to the Health ministry, CoG and SRC offices to present their petition.
Nurses protest in the streets of Wajir town on May 12, 2017. PHOTO | BRUHAN MAKONG | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Similar street protests were witnessed in Kisumu and Wajir town, with the health caregivers demanding full implementation of their pact.
In Samburu, the county government has hired nurses from Amref Health Africa to fill the gap left by nurses on strike.
The Amref nurses are expected to enhance medical services as talks continue, according to Samburu Health Executive Peter Lolmodooni.
In Mombasa, the strike continued to hit services, with doctors and clinical officers stepping in to give care to patients at Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH).
The medics had attended to hundreds of patients by mid-morning.
Likoni resident Vincent Kamau, who was scheduled for minor surgery, said the medics had saved him.
Nurses march in the streets of Kisumu on May 12, 2017. PHOTO | RUSHDIE OUDIA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
"We are lucky that CPGH is operating. I was asked by doctors to come for a bladder operation," he said while waiting for the procedure outside the main theatre.
Ann Wangeci, 26, said doctors had helped his son Dan Karani.
"I have been here even before the strike. Doctors and clinical officers have been helping me. I am waiting for my son to be operated on and treated," she said.
At the paediatric ward, Ms Wangeci's son was admitted with five other patients.
SHUT
A spot check by the Nation at the maternity ward, newborn unit and female ward 7 revealed a handful of doctors and clinical officers were working.
"The effects are minimal because doctors and clinical officers are working,” said a doctor at the hospital who asked for anonymity because he is not authorised to talk to the press.
“But there are a few patients coming to seek services at CPGH due to the nurses' strike.”
But services were paralysed at Tudor, Port Reitz, Kisauni and Likoni district hospitals.
Port Reitz Mental Hospital, the second largest mental hospital in the country after Mathari, was shut down after all patients were forcibly discharged last week.
A source at the facility revealed to the Nation that there were no services after the nurses there downed their tools.
Relatives of mentally ill patients being treated at the hospital were called to pick up their kin.
The Nation found workers cleaning the facility as the hospital remained deserted.
Reported by Winnie Atieno, Godfrey Oundoh, Magdalene Wanja and Bruhan Makong.
More follows.
