More than one hundred clinical officers, nurses and laboratory technicians in Bungoma County held a peaceful demonstration and marched to the office of the Governor demanding for their grievances to be addressed. Led by their chairman Simon Omari the health workers said during the Coronavirus pandemic their lives have been at risk as the government has failed to provide them with proper personal protective equipment.
He added that they need to be covered under the universal health coverage program saying they have been on the receiving end as no one has ever bothered to take care of their welfare despite having been on the forefront to save lives. “Our colleagues who are above fifty years and those who have underlying conditions need to be excluded from daily duties as they may succumb to the Coronavirus,” he added.
Mr. Omari also pointed out that many of them have worked in the same job group for a long time and need to be promoted saying some have also worked without proper confirmation and that the government needs to take charge of their needs.
Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati said some of the issues need to be sorted out in collaboration with the national government and called for their patience as they await the national government’s intervention.
He added that being the chairman of the finance committee in the council of Governors he will push to ensure the raised concerns are addressed at an appropriate time.