The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Nandi secretary Mr Amos Ng’etich has affirmed that the health workers strike is still on, despite threats that the nurses contracts will be cancelled if they don’t return to work. Speaking to West FM, Ng’etich said that the health workers are allowed to fight for their rights, especially a better comprehensive insurance cover, provision of Covid-19 personal protective equipment (PPEs), and promotions.
“The government should address the plight of health workers and solve grievances amicably to enable health workers provide efficient services,” he said. Nurses and clinical workers have been on strike since Monday this week, with demands of a better working environment in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Doctors under KMPDU called off their planned strike hours before it wa smeant to commence to give room for dialogue.
Health services have been paralyzed in public hospitals in various pats of the country. “As health workers, we’ve been asking the government to address our issues for a long time but nothing has changed,” he noted. He said the government can’t say its ready for talks and at the same time condone sack threats.