Nurses from Trans Nzoia County have pledged to continue with their strike. Speaking to the press on Thursday led by the County KNUN secretary Willy Sifuna and the chairman Edward Cheruiyot, they appealed to County residents not to take patients to hospitals in the County since services aren’t being rendered.
Some of the issues the nurses want addressed by the County government include promotion of staff, provisions of a risk allowance, putting in place a comprehensive medical cover among others.
They laughed off the County administration’s notice by the Health Chief Officer Charles Barasa, notifying those on leave to report back, interns to continue offering health services and halting the promotion exercise that had already began. The notice also stipulated stern action against those who go defy it, including being sacked.
The officials urged interns not to fall for the pressures from the County government since no one will be willing to take care of them. “We can’t endanger our lives while the County isn’t ready to take care of our health welfare as well as our interests,” said Sifuna.
They’ve said the working relationship between nurses and the County government hasn’t been good, and some of the County leaders led by Governor Patrick Khaemba haven’t been working in unison.
Sifuna’s sentiments were echoed by the KNUN Trans Nzoia chairman Edward Cheruiyot, who said nurses are treated unfairly, adding that the County isn’t ready to fight Covid-19.
On its part the Trans Nzoia County workers union secretary Samuel Kiboi claimed all workers are going to down tools if their grievances will not be addressed. He said funds are being looted by County leaders, yet no PPEs have bene bought, adding that the Governor should reshuffle his cabinet and place the right people in the health docket.