Mandera County Govt urges health workers to resume duty

The Mandera County Government is appealing to health workers currently on strike to resume duty saying the issues raised are being addressed.

The Executive in charge of heath Hassan Eymoy said most of the issues raised by the health workers had been fulfilled while others have been prioritised the county government.

Eymoy said apart from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), the county government had put all medical staff under a private medical cover, which is among the issues that the striking workers are demanding.

Last year, the official added, the county government had recruited additional health workers to boost health provision as well as re-opening 42 health centres that have not been operating.

“We are working hard to ensure that the health sector is properly managed. We have listened to their grievances and from what we have done they can see there is a will to improve their welfare,” said the CEC.

Eymoy said the county government was waiting for the conclusion of consultation between it and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission before some issues concerning allowances can be addressed.

"We have been talking to them and have already given them an offer as we wait for the SRC’s word. The dialogue is still going on," said Eymoy.

On promotions, Eymoy said in the past year all medical officers serving in the county had been promoted a scale higher to the next job group.

“This was informed by case to case review of their (employees) employment history. In addition, all health care workers who are due for promotion have been asked to provide certain documents for it to be done,” said the official.

The official was reacting to claims that the county government had remained adamant and was refusing to give in to demands by health workers who have been on strike since Monday.

Services at 48 health facilities in Mandera County have been paralysed as the strike by over 350 health workers continue to bite.

Among other many demands the health workers want improved hardship allowance from Sh600 to Sh20, 000 monthly, risk allowance from Sh3, 000 to Sh30, 000 per month due to the prevailing security risk posed by lurking Somalia based al-Shabaab militia.