Ministry to hire 5,000 nurses

By Patrick Muriungi

At least 5,000 nurses will be hired this year against the shortage of 24,000 medical staff in Government hospitals.

National Association of Nurses chairman Luke K’Odambo had appealed to the Government to address the shortage, saying it hampered delivery of services.

Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o says only 800 would be employed while the Ministry of Finance stimulus budget will cater for 20 in every constituency.

Mr Joseph Kungu Mwangi of Nyeri Provincial General Hospital is lifted aloft by colleagues after he was voted nurse of the year at Kenya Methodist University, Meru, on Wednesday. [PHOTO: PATRICK MURIUNGI/STANDARD]

In a speech read on his behalf by Director of Medical Services Francis Kimani during the opening of this year’s National Nurses’ Conference at the Kenya Methodist University in Meru, the minister said various health institutions would be upgraded to bring services closer to people.

Mass exodus

But Mr K’Odambo said the Government was not doing enough to stop the mass exodus of nurses to greener pastures abroad.

He appealed to the Government to ensure it absorbed the 7,000 nurses who graduated recently.

The officials also said the ministry should consider re-calling those who retired recently on attaining the initial 55-year retirement age, which has now been raised to 60.

"The Government should show commitment by employing the 7,000 newly trained nurses and further reabsorb many nurses who retired under the 55-year rule," said K’Odambo.

Dr Kimani said a new study indicated maternity attendants were scaring away women from delivering in hospitals due to mistreatment and bad attitudes.

He said a study in 30 districts in Kenya had pointed out that some maternity attendants use abusive language and do not attend to expectant women in time, compelling most of them to deliver at home.

Kimani said the health workers were a major contributor to maternal deaths.

"The bad attitudes of some health workers are chasing mothers from delivering in hospitals," said Kimani.

He added: "That is why we have many mothers opting to take their children to hospital long after they have delivered at home. This situation has to be reversed."

He said the shortage of nurses should not be used to deny mothers quality health care.

 

 

Read all about: hospitals National Association of Nurses Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o

 

 

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