Health sector calls for urgent recovery after nurses' strike

Nurses demonstrating during their43 day strike.[File-Standard]

Healthcare professional associations have called for urgent recovery of health services following the end of the 43-day nurses’ strike.

The associations said nurses were returning to facilities across the 47 counties, but urged managers to prioritise clearing service backlogs and attending to patients whose care was delayed during the strike.

National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) President Collins Otieno Ajwang said the return of nurses would help restore services to millions of Kenyans who depend on public hospitals.

“We commend the union leadership and county governments for choosing constructive dialogue to break the weeks-long deadlock,” Ajwang said.

He said nurses, who account for nearly 70 per cent of Kenya’s health workforce, were central to restoring care after the prolonged disruption.

The professional bodies said particular attention should be given to maternal, neonatal, emergency and specialised care as facilities work to stabilise services.

“The return of nurses to health facilities across the country is an important step towards restoring continuity of care,” the associations said.

 "We are urging facility managers to support teams clearing backlogs and managing patients whose care may have been delayed."

They also called on the national and county governments to honour commitments made under the agreement that ended the strike and resolve health workers’ concerns before they escalate into further disruptions.

“This agreement should not be viewed as the end of the conversation, but as an opportunity to address the vulnerabilities that contributed to this prolonged disruption,” the associations said.

The bodies said the focus should now include predictable health workforce financing, improved welfare and terms for workers serving under Universal Health Coverage programmes, and better working conditions.

They pledged to work with the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, Parliament and other health-sector partners on reforms aimed at strengthening the health system and keeping patient care at the centre.