Health Workers Strike continues as Kisumu county abandon talks despite the Pandemic

 

Kisumu county healthy officials. FILE

 

Kisumu health workers strike continues as they demand their salary arrears from March.


The medics started their strike on last week Thursday saying they will not get back to work until they are fully paid.
 
Kenya National Union of Nurses deputy general secretary Maurice Opetu said the county government had abandoned to acknowledge their deal.

Mr Opetu said that residents will endure bearing the brunt of interruption of health services until the county honours their request.


The health workers also want President Uhuru Kenyatta to entreat Article 218 of the Constitution to form Kisumu Metropolitan City.


Mr Opetu called on the President because the county government has deserted its primary duty to offer essential health services.


He continued that metropolitan like in Nairobi will infuse performance in the administration and management of the affairs of Kisumu county.


Governor's press director Aloice Ager said the county was struggling on sorting out the problem.


A joint committee of the health workers' unions directed members to stage special meetings and sit-ins because the county government had abandoned an agreement to pay funds owed by Wednesday.


The workers are represented by the Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya National Medical Laboratory Officers and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants. 

Some have not been paid their salaries for the last three months and others up to six months, they said.


In a statement, the joint committee said medics had been working with irregular and incongruous supply of PPE by the employer.