By Robert Manyara
Busia County, Kenya: Busia Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi has pleaded with the striking healthcare workers to resume duty for the interest of patients seeking medical attention in County’s public health facilities.
Speaking after a joint meeting with union representatives of nurses and clinicians that lasted five hours at the Busia County Referral Hospital (BCRH) on Friday, Mulomi said the County Government is concerned over the current crisis that has paralyzed services.
Mulomi, who is also the acting Health executive, said downing tools is not the solution towards addressing emerging issues in the health sector.
He pointed out that the industrial action is not in the interest of residents considering that patients are suffering.
“As the County Government, we are concerned with lack of essential services at our facilities. If these services are not being rendered obviously it is like we are not able to account for the resources we are spending,” stated the DG.
The DG said 90 per cent of the demands by the striking healthcare workers are supposed to be handled by the National Government, adding that the devolved unit is committed towards addressing the unresolved issues among them the comprehensive medical cover by NHIF.
“I am appealing to all striking healthcare workers to return to work as we look into the issues raised,” he said while encouraging the workers to emulate their colleagues in other counties who have embraced consultations without disrupting services in hospitals.
He continued: “Patients suffering from diseases like Malaria, TB, HIV/AIDs and children who require immunization need to get services considering that most of them cannot afford the cost of treatment in private hospitals.”
The Union officials among them the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Chairman Busia branch Isaiah Omondi and Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) chairman Abdul-Razaq Juma requested for four days to consult their members to make a decision on whether to call off the strike.
Also present were Chief Officers Dr. Isaac Omeri (Medical Services), Jonathan Ino (Public Health), Clementina Omoto (Public Service Administration), County Health Administration officer Ali Atemba, Human Resource Officer George Tengo and KMPDU Busia branch secretary Sande Charo.
