Nurses blame deaths on quacks

The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has accused private health facilities of hiring quacks instead of qualified nurses.

Union Secretary General Seth Panyako (pictured) said practicing nurses have been blamed for deaths caused by quarks operating in such facilities. 

“We are aware of one incident where one of our nurses was sacked and banned from practicing in Makueni County for negligence leading to an infant's death. Two other incidents reported at Shalom Hospital involving a child and a pregnant woman were caused by hospital workers who aren't qualified nurses,” Panyako told journalists in Malava. 

According to Panyako, exploitation of nurses by counties and lack of drugs and equipment in public health facilities had contributed to poor services. 

Panyako, however, said the union would not defend nurses who violate ethics.