Nandi Speaker Joshua Kiptoo challenges government to urgently address concerns raised by healthcare workers.
Days after health workers downed their tools after accusing the national government of failing to address their concerns, Nandi County assembly Speaker Joshua Kiptoo has said the issues raised by the medics needed urgent attention.
Medical officers have been pushing for medical insurance, provision of Personal Protective Equipments and hiring of more staff to fight Covid-19 pandemic in the country, which has killed over 1,500 Kenyans including more than 32 medical officers. Over 2,000 medical officers have contracted the disease since it was first reported in the country.
Speaker Kiptoo said the health officers were justified to push for their demands and asked National Government to engage them and find a lasting solution.
Kiptoo asked the nurses, clinical officers and other heath workers who have joined the industrial action to watch out against divisions amongst themselves that might hamper the fight for their rights.
“Learn from the tribulations facing the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) which is now on its death bed. If you are not careful, you will end up divided and unable to advocate for your rights,” he said.
The speaker said Government should prioritize the grievances of the medical officers to salvage the deteriorating conditions in hospitals where many patients have been left on their own.
“We ask the health workers to engage the county assembly and present their issues so that we can see where we can help,” he said.
The speaker was speaking at Kapkagaon during the funeral of the late Victor Tiony a clinical officer who had contracted and recovered from COVID-19 only to later succumb to Covid complications illness.
As the strike continues, many Kenyans have forced to seek services from private facilities, which are unaffordable to many citizens.
Even as the frontline workers continue agitating for their rights, Government Spokesman Colonel retired Cyrus Oguna on Tuesday asked them to return to work saying their strike was worsening the health situation in the country.
Earlier, ODM leader Raila Odinga told doctors to abandon their plan to strike saying they should understand that the country was in a difficult situation at the moment due to the pandemic.
