Union flags shortage of health workers, security lapses at Naivasha Level IV hospital

Naivasha,

Thursday, November 30, 2023

KNA by Erastus Gichohi

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers has raised a red flag over a huge shortage of health personnel at the Naivasha Level IV hospital which may compromise professional service delivery to hundreds of patients.

The union raised concerns over long queues of patients at the facility who have to wait for long hours to be attended to due to low staffing, a move that also put emergency care services at risk.

According to the Union National Chairman Peterson Wachira, the referral facility has a huge deficit of health workers with over 70 percent of existing ones working as casuals on short term contracts.

“The life of patients in need of emergency care services at this facility is already at risk as the overworked workers are unable to respond on time,” said Wachira.

Wachira called on the Nakuru County government to move with speed and deploy more health personnel to boost efficiency in services and attend to patients on time.

Wachira who led the union officials on a fact finding mission after health workers received threats following accusations of neglect of duty after the death of man who visited the facility.

During the early morning incident on Sunday, the relatives stormed the facility after their kin Dan Mungai lost his life alleging that the hospital demanded for Sh10, 000 before an operation is done.

Wachira defended the health workers noting that no ill motive nor neglect concerns were established after reviewing CCTV footage at the facility.

Speaking to the press in Naivasha, Wachira raised concerns over security lapses at the facility after one of the relatives allegedly threatened the workers with a gun putting their life at risk.

“We ask the Inspector General of Police to move with speed and conduct thorough investigations into the alleged use of a gun to threaten health workers at this facility,” said Wachira.

He said the union will petition the Nakuru Governor and the Council of Governors to beef up security in all health facilities in the country to contain increased security breaches in the recent past.

Wachira further said the union will also petition the Nakuru County Assembly and the Senate to enact relevant law that will see armed security officers man all hospitals in the country.

Union Secretary General George Gibore condemned the threats meted against health workers at the facility noting the affected workers feel shaken and mentally disturbed following the incident.

Gibore called on the county to beef up security in its health facility to contain future attacks and threats to the lives of medical personnel who usually work under immense conditions to save lives.

Rose Masta, the Secretary of Kenya Union of Nurses called for protection of health workers in their line of duty to ensure they discharge their duties without fear or intimidation.

She urged the county governor to transfer the affected workers to other facilities in order to give them the right environment to attend to patients. 

Courtesy; KNA