Health services in facilities across Nandi have been paralyzed following the nationwide health workers strike which has entered its third day today, leaving patients suffering. A quick spot check by West FM revealed that most public hospitals and health centers from across Nandi were not operational and patients were left lying helplessly in their beds following the strike.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses Nandi secretary Mr Amos Ng’etich confirmed that health workers-nurses and clinical officers-in the County have downed their tools to fight for their rights. He cited poor working conditions, lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and lack of a comprehensive insurance cover as being the major challenge they are facing, adding that they’ll not return to work until their issues are sorted.
He said they can’t continue working in a life threatening environment. “The life insurance cover given to us is not comprehensive and doesn’t cater for our families,” Ng’etich said. Patients have been forced to seek medication in private facilities while those who don’t have the required money have no other option but to head back home.