West Pokot County government has resorted to employing health personnel on a two-year contract to serve residents as the nurses’ strike has crippled services in health facilities in the County. West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has termed the move a stop gap measure to ensure residents receive service.
Addressing the newly employed nurses on at Kapenguria County hospital, area Governor John Lonyangapuo, said the County government will give the two-year contracts to two hundred nurses, who are certificate, diploma, and degree holders.
He said this will fill the gap left by the nurses who are on strike since June 15th till now. “We all know how our people have suffered since the nurses went on strike and my government has decided to employ other nurses who will help our people, for the time being. These newly recruited nurses shall get two-year contracts,” said the Governor.
He added that they won’t be subjected to interviews, instead, they shall submit their documents which shall be verified.
“We now have over 50 candidates and we expect over hundred candidates by the end of today. These nurses will continue working even after the other nurses resume work since we had a shortage of nurses in the County,” he said.
He added that those nurses on contract who will work with excellence shall secure permanent jobs in the County.
He said the County has 400 nurses and they intend to increase the number to 600 to boost service delivery. He further said that by the end of this week, normal service will resume at Kapernguria County referral hospital.