The Kenya Clinical Officers Association (KCOA) North Rift branch wants both the national and county governments to amicably resolve the grievances of health workers to avert persistent strikes in the sector.
The officials asked the two levels of government to convene talks to facilitate consensus building between the parties so that normal operations could resume in health facilities that were crippled since the workers downed their tools two weeks ago.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu County Hospital, Eldoret, the clinical officers led by the branch’s Secretary General Joseph Chebii Kering, called on the president and the Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale to reach out to the Council of Governors (CoG) for talks to contain further suffering of patients in public health facilities.
“There are about 20 clinical officers in this hospital, and surprisingly, they have only two currently, serving the whole facility. No wonder patients are making noise there,” said the Secretary General.
“So it’s like work is not actually going on, and patients are complaining. The national government, the Ministry of Health through the Cabinet Secretary, the CoG and the leadership of Kenya Union of Clinical Officers need to come to the table and actually sit, discuss, and resolve these issues,” added Kering.
The members urged the hospital management to address the issues of the officers, emphasising that they play a crucial role in saving lives in the hospital.
Similarly, Leah Sugut, a doctor with the Global Fund unit, complained of unpaid salary for 19 months and has asked the health CS to intervene and determine their employment terms.
“We are asking the government to help us so that the doctors can go back to work to ensure patients get the treatment they need,” she said.
“We are also requesting that we get paid our 19-month salary so that we continue serving Kenyans because we have been in this for the last 15 years and we aspire to still work and serve humanity as clinical officers,” added Sugut.
Meanwhile, patients at the Uasin Gishu county hospital have expressed concern over long stays at the health facility without being served due to the shortage of health workers, calling on the government to move with speed to address the matter.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
