In-Patient services at Kocholia Sub-county Referral paralyzed after casual workers down their tools

Teso

Thursday August 17, 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

In-Patient services at Kocholia Sub- county Referral Hospital have been suspended after casual workers downed their tools demanding unpaid salary arrears for 10 months.

Over 30 casual workers at the Sub-county Referral Hospital went on a go-slow, paralyzing medical services for Teso North residents and those from the neighboring Sub-county.

At the entrance of the Maternity Ward, one is welcomed by an unpleasant smell emitting from unemptied dustbins, blood splashing on the floor, unwashed beddings, clear evidence of no services at the facility as both male and female wards remained closed.

According to Fredrick Oleket, the Chairperson for casual workers at the Level 4 Hospital, it's over 10 months now since they last saw any payment in their accounts, despite them having offered services to the County, wholeheartedly.

“We were contracted by the County as casual workers, the Management has been frustrating our efforts to discharge our duties, no payment, and failure to remit our statutory deductions,” said Oleket.

The workers complained of failure in remission of statutory deductions, lack of promotion from one job group to next and understaffing.

Oleket noted that the workers decided to down their tools following numerous unfulfilled promises from the County Government of Busia, a situation that has pushed them to abject poverty amidst hard economic times.

His sentiment was echoed by Ben Baraza, a cook who added that he can no longer support his family lamenting that working for ten months from 6:30am in the morning till late at night without a single pay has inconvenienced his programs at home.

“We have not received our 10 months salaries, yet we have families to take care of, children to go to school, rents to pay among other financial obligations,” regretted Baraza.

Baraza said he is ready to quit once paid his full dues and seek a new challenge elsewhere.

Mary Odioi a mother of five and a widow narrates how she has been forced to relocate back to his village at Nambale after the landlord locked her family out over outstanding rent arrears.

“I was locked out of my house as I couldn’t pay off Sh1,500 rent for over six months to my landlord,” said Mary.

Confirming the incident the Hospital Administrator, Bonface Odikor, said workers have suspended in-patience services due to the conditions in the facility and they can only offer emergency services and out-patience.

“At the moment the facility can only afford to offer emergency and Out-Patient services due to the ongoing casual workers strike,” said Odikor the Administrator.

Courtesy ; K. N. A