As the medics’ strike entered day four, Trans Nzoia county government has taken the initiative of employing nurses to offer services vital in Level four hospitals and Mt. Elgon hospital in Kitale. Speaking to the press, Trans Nzoia governor Patrick Khaemba said that more than 30 nurses will be employed to cater for the patients.
The county boss said already seven nurses have arrived at the level four Hospital and are ready to start offering services to patients who are visiting the facility promising that the remaining nurses will report very soon to help alleviate the burden.
Khaemba disclosed that the nurses will be offering outpatient services at the hospital but those in a critical condition will be referred to some private hospitals within the county for proper medication, adding that the county will work hand in hand with the private hospitals to settle the bills.
Khaemba, however, appealed to other medics who don’t fall under the nurses’ docket to report to work and offer the necessary services to the patients, warning them that failure to report on duty will lead to sacking.
He said some other medics have taken advantage of the ongoing nurses’ strike to abscond from their duties, mentioning the laboratory technicians and pharmacists as the notable examples. He said they were doing a disservice to the residents of the county.
He called upon all the striking medics to return to work as their demands are being sorted out, arguing that the patients cannot be punished for mistakes that don’t concern them.
“I want to appeal to the nurses within the county to consider the ailing patients who are suffering and need proper healthcare. The county can’t go on this way with patients suffering in hospitals without having proper medication,” said Khaemba.
The strike that started on Monday has paralyzed operations in most hospitals in the country, with several patients calling upon the national and county governments to speed up negotiations with the striking medical practitioners.