Reprieve as nurses call off strike

Photo/JOSEPH KANYI
One of the three patients left in Nyeri Provincial General Hospital ward on March 4, 2012 as the nurses’ strike entered its fourth day. Most patients were ordered to go home except for those who were unable to clear their bills.

What you need to know:

  • Medical Services Ministry and workers’ union strike deal to start pay talks

Patients seeking treatment in public hospitals got a reprieve after nurses ended their four-day strike.

Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o struck a pay deal with representatives of the health workers and the civil service unions at the ministry’s offices on Sunday.

Prof Nyong’o, during a press conference convened on Sunday night, said consultations to meet the pay demands would be held next week.

“All parties have expressed regrets and agreed to call off the strike in order to stop Kenyans from suffering. Since these discussions are already in advanced stage, the union has agreed to call structured negotiations with the government as from March 7,” he said.

Those involved in the talks were Kenya Union of Civil Servants, Kenya Health Professionals Society, Medical Services permanent secretary Mary Ngare, her Public Health counterpart Mark Bor and officials from the Treasury.

The striking nurses had earlier threatened to camp outside Parliament from Monday if their demands were not addressed.

Public hospitals almost ground to a halt on Sunday as patients were prematurely discharged.  

Union secretary-general Seth Panyako asked the Medical Services Ministry to employ 24,000 nurses in the next financial year.

“Out of the 66,000 nurses required in the public service, we only have 17,000,” Mr Panyako told journalists in Nairobi.

At the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital, the outpatient and the casualty sections were deserted except for casual workers doing their chores.

At the Kerugoya District Hospital, all the patients were ordered to go home except those who were unable to clear their medical bills.

In Kuria and Migori, operations at the district hospitals ground to a halt as nurses kept off work.

A Kehancha and Migori district hospitals, only support staff  reported for duty.

It was the same case at Murang’a District Hospital, where patients were referred to private hospitals or sent home.

Reports by Aggrey Mutambo, Lilian Onyango, Bernardine Mutanu, Elisha Otieno, Samuel Karanja and George Munene