Doctors in Embu Issue 21-Day Strike Notice

Embu

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

KNA by Samuel Waititu

Doctors in Embu have issued a 21-day strike notice over poor working conditions as they accuse the County Government of turning a blind eye to their plight.

They said health facilities across the county have been hit by acute shortage of drugs and equipment and added they are tired of pleading with the government to address the crisis to alleviate patients’ sufferings.

They said their patience had grown thin and if nothing is done to remedy the situation in the coming three weeks, they will be left with no option other than to down their tools.

Led by Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr Davji Atella, the doctors said the county had failed to improve their working conditions by equipping facilities with essential drugs and equipment to enable them work effectively.

“Embu doctors’ work has been reduced to supervise deaths, they do not have equipment nor drugs to enable them offer services to patients,” Dr Atella said, adding that they had been forced to refer patients to neighbouring counties.

Speaking on Monday during a press briefing, the official said the crisis comes on the backdrop of poor pay for doctors and said the trend cannot be tolerated any longer.

He continued that the county had also completely failed to remit statutory deductions to relevant institutions forcing many of them to lose their property to auctioneers.

The SG further stated that their career progression was in jeopardy as they are subjected to arbitrary contracts with no definite timelines for renewal.

In the meantime, the doctors urged patients to consider seeking services from neighbouring counties as they pledged to make good their threat should the government fail to heed their grievances.

He observed that the county has only eight doctors against the required establishment of 300 to effectively address health needs.

Upper Eastern KMPDU Chairman Dr Dennis Mugambi said they had not been promoted for the last 10 years.

He said they had hoped that with the change of county governance after last year’s elections, they would see a significant change which has not been the case.

Courtesy ; K. N. A