Healthcare Workers at Nduru Hospital Want Safety Concerns Addressed

Kisii, Tuesday May 9, 2023

KNA by Dedan Mwembi and Mercy Osongo

Kisii County Healthcare branch Unions have vowed to continue withdrawing their services at Nduru Level 4 Hospital in South Mugirango Constituency until their work safety concerns are addressed to their satisfaction.

The healthcare workers downed their tools two days after they were attacked by a rowdy mob on April 12, 2023, while trying to transfer unused medical equipment to other healthcare facilities facing shortages in the county.

Speaking to the press in Kisii town, Kenya National Union of Nurses Kisii Branch Chairman, Erick Rioba said the security of health workers at the facility remains a major concern because they were harassed, injured, and were still recovering after the ordeal.

“As Unions, our major mandate is to defend, promote, unite and empower our members, and we want to tell all the residents of Kisii and Nduru that our healthcare workers will go back to work when we will be assured of our security,” Rioba noted.

The Chairman cautioned political leaders against politicising the matter adding that the demonstrations held within the Constituency on Sunday with the aim of forcing healthcare workers to return to work and provide healthcare services were unfortunate.

Instead, Rioba urged the local leaders to hold public barazas with the community members and assure the healthcare workers of their safety so that they can feel comfortable going back to work as well as raise any issues with the county government administrators for action.  

He noted that the health sector in Kisii is currently facing a lot of challenges touching on issues of taxation, promotions, and re-designations where some of the healthcare workers have never been re-designated.

Kenya Union of Clinical Officers Kisii Branch Secretary, Victor Bwanchete empathised with the community members of South Mugirango saying they are unable to access health services due to the situation at hand.

Bwanchete called for the arrest and prosecution of the individuals who attacked the healthcare workers adding that no single arrest or interrogation had been witnessed despite the evidence at the disposal of investigating agencies.

Other demands made by the Secretary on behalf of the union included the erecting of a security fence around the hospital to prevent uncoordinated access into the facility and an apology from the representative of the local community.

Contrary to that, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentist Union (KMPPDU)has issued a statement directing its doctors to return to the facility on Tuesday and render their skills, with caution, after withdrawing their services on April 14, 2023, on grounds of intimidation, harassment, personal and work safety concerns.

According to the Union’s Nyanza Branch Secretary, Dr Aggrey Nyabuti, their workers will resume work except for one who has never been paid his salary for over a year despite diligently rendering his services to the community.

“We still demand for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the heinous act. We will not hesitate to direct our members to withdraw their skills again should there be even an attempt of such a heinous act on them,” reads part of the statement from the Union. 

Courtesy; K.N.A