Nairobi health workers issue strike notice

From Left, Kenya National union of nurses officials, Leinepike Kioko- Organizing Secretary, Eunice Ngare- Deputy secretary and Consolata Ndege- Treasurer when they issued a 14 days strike notice on delay pay and poor working condition. [Photo: WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Health workers in Nairobi have given the county government a 14-day ultimatum to meet their demands or they go on strike.

The health workers said they had issued a strike notice on December 15 last year to the Nairobi City County Public Service Board.

They said they received a reply that majority of the board members were on leave and promised to convene a meeting in January to address the matters raised in the strike notice. “We are in receipt of a letter dated December 17, 2014 by the County Public Service Board, which acknowledges receipt of our strike notice. It stated that majority of the board members were on leave and would convene in January 2015 to address matters raised in the strike notice, which are within the board’s mandate,” said Kenya National Union of Nurses Nairobi Branch Deputy Secretary Eunice Ngare.

RESOLUTIONS DISCUSSED

Addressing the Press in Nairobi, Ms Ngare said Nairobi branch health workers governing council held consultative meetings on January 2 and 5 and among the resolutions discussed and concluded was that the strike be postponed for a further 14 days from the date of expiry of the December 25 last year’s notice.

Other demands from the health workers include immediate payment of withheld salaries for Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) staff. They also demanded for absorption of nurses and other health workers in the ESP into a permanent and pensionable establishment by the board.

They also called for harmonisation of salaries and allowances for nurses in the county as well as promotions.

The health workers further pointed out the improvement of poor working conditions in health facilities in the county. They said there is lack of consistency in provision of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical supplies to the health facilities.

Ngare said lack of essential commodities and disconnection or interrupted supplies of electricity and water are common in health facilities such as Makadara, Jericho and Marurui health centres due to unpaid bills.

“There is also a shortage of staff in main hospitals like Pumwani Maternity, Mama Lucy Kibaki and Mbagathi District hospitals. This compromises the quality of health care service delivery in the county,” she stated.