Nurses demand better working conditions

Nurses demand better working conditions. [Anne Atieno]

Nurses are now demanding the implementation of policies, a better working environment, and want staff shortages addressed.

Led by Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako and President of the National Nurses Association of Kenya Collins Otieno, the nurses said their working conditions were wanting and that they were fatigued due to the acute shortage of health workers.

They spoke as hundreds of nurses across the country gathered at Migori Stadium grounds to celebrate the Nurses Week celebrations, themed 'Caring for Nurses strengthens the economy' was being held.

"These nurses are not even taking leave. They have back problems because the staff shortage is so much that they have burnouts," Mr. Panyako said.

According to the union leaders, nurses needed to be motivated by being promoted and placed in different job groups, aside from being redesigned.

Panyako highlighted that despite being the backbone of the healthcare system, nurses were being discriminated against when it came to leadership, management and money.

"We want to be there, we want to sit on every table," Panyako stated.

The nurses' Secretary General also requested the implementation of the career progression that was approved and asked county governments to address acute shortage of nurses in health facilities aside from promoting those he said had worked in the same position for a very long time.

They also want return to work formula implemented.

According to the union officials, nurses could not access the same healthcare services they offered because of the Social Health Authority (SHA).

"They offer services they cannot access themselves. SHA has turned into 'Shisha'. NHIF was way better and nurses could get services through it," Panyako highlighted.

Otieno asked the government to stop discriminating nurses, saying that they have been denied opportunities to go for trainings because of shortages.

According to Otieno, they have already developed the new career guidelines and it has been approved by the Public Service Commission.

Leaders who included Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, Senators Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Eddy Oketch (Migori), Godfrey Otsotsi (Vihiga), Tom Ojienda (Kisumu), MPs Nelson Koech (Belgut), Peter Masara (Suna West), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Paul Abuor (Rongo), among other government officials, joined nurses in the celebrations.

Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, while responding to Nurses Union officials' concerns, said that in their next budget, they would ensure that most nurses are promoted.

He said that aside from employing 37 nurses out of the 80 health workers they brought in their workforce, they have made advertisements and are considering adding 13 more nurses.

"This is because of the supplementary budget," Governor Ayacko said.

Senator Sifuna said that it was very unfair how nurses' issues were being handled.

He asked the government to take care of the healthcare workers.

"When I am in the Senate, I have interacted with these healthcare workers. It is very unfair," Senator Sifuna remarked.

Sifuna highlighted that they didn't see anything bad with NHIF and recommended that amendments be made in areas where there were loopholes.

He vowed that they would hold the hands of nurses.