The Kenya National Union of Nurses wants the national and county governents to employ more nurses to World Health Organization nurse-patient ratio.
KNUN President Michael Wekesa lamented that since the start of the one week commemoration of Nurses Week, they have little to smile about.
Wekesa claimed some nurses are stressed due to work-related burnout while others have develop physical health issues.
"Eighty per cent of patients are currently being served by only one nurse from 7am-6pm daily. We are suffering from a big shortage or nurses. World over, one nurse should attend to six patients. This has caused more harm," Wekesa said.
Meru branch union secretary general Nesbit Mugendi and chairman Mugambi Bakari said the week's commemoration is beneficial to the community.
"We will conduct cancer, diabetes, cleft lips surgeries and hypertension in all our hospitals for free from May 3 to May 10," Mugendi said.
More than 700 nurses will converge at the Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) on Friday May 3, 2024 to commemorate the Nurses Week.
Wekesa urged the county and national governments to factor in employing more nurses.
"It goes without saying, the government needs to pull their socks in matters employing nurses. MPs and MCAs are establishing new dispensaries and health facilities but no increase to this cadre," he said.
Wekesa added that 46 per cent of Kenya's wage bill which is above 35 per cent required in a country, is dentrimental and encouraged nurses to seek for greener pastures outside the country instead of remaining unemployed.