Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has urged striking nurses in the county to embrace dialogue to avert further disruptions of healthcare services.
Speaking in Tongaren during the ground-breaking ceremony for a modern neonatal unit at Naitiri Sub-County Hospital, Lusaka appealed to the medical personnel to prioritise the welfare of patients.
He assured them of the county government’s commitment to addressing their concerns through constructive engagement.
“I understand the issues raised by our nurses, but I implore them to consider dialogue as the best way forward. The well-being of our people depends on a functioning healthcare system, and we must collaborate to find a solution,” Lusaka said.
The Bungoma Governor said he was committed to improving the county's health care system pointing out that this week the county had posted an additional 568 health workers.
This move, he said, is aimed at ensuring that essential medical services remain accessible to the public.
He emphasised that healthcare remains a top priority for his administration, urging all stakeholders to work together to safeguard the health and lives of Bungoma residents.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses and the National Nurses Association of Kenya decried what it termed as systemic oppression and neglect, arguing that nurses are the least appreciated in the healthcare hierarchy despite shouldering much of the patient care.
Nurses in Bungoma began the strike on January 13 after a 21-day strike notice that they issued to the Department of Health and Sanitation lapsed.
Their union official David Wamalwa outlined some of the issues that the department is supposed to implement for the betterment of their work.
He said the county had failed to promote nurses as promised and re-designate specialised nurses while utilising their expertise.
He also said the county had failed to procure comprehension health insurance cover for nurses, and cited delayed remittance of statutory deductions and implementation new salary scheme.
“They have also failed to implement the National Registered CBA for seconded nurses and to implement a 17-tier grading structure,” he said.
