Nurses in some 11 counties started their industrial action Monday, signalling yet another period of pain and neglect for patients who cannot afford to pay for services in private hospitals.
The affected counties apparently did nothing to assuage the nursing fraternity following a 21-day strike notice that they had issued to push for the implementation of their return- to-work formula agreed in 2017. As a result, public hospitals in Nairobi, Kisumu, West Pokot, Kisii, Taita Taveta and Trans Nzoia will have to make do without nurses. Others are Nyandarua, Nyeri, Wajir, Kitui and Elgeyo Marakwet. And there is a possibility that nurses in other regions will be joining the strike in coming days.
If the governors of these counties remain adamant, the sick in their areas must prepare to endure pain as they remain unattended in public hospitals.
That is unacceptable for a government that easily dangles a universal healthcare card to anyone who cares to provide a listening ear. But why would governors show no willingness to resolve a long-standing labour dispute with health workers? Could it be that they do not have the welfare of nurses and patients at heart? To end a national strike that had gone on for five months with no sign of abating, the 47 governors signed a deal in November 2017, committing to pay the country’s 26,000 nurses a uniform allowance of Sh5,000 each.
That agreement, brokered by the national government, the Central Organisation of Trade Union and the Federation of Kenya Employers also promised to raise the risk allowance of each nurse from Sh3,000 to Sh23,000. That would require the 47 counties to allocate Sh1 billion more to implement the plan. The money is a tidy sum by all means, but counties made a commitment to pay it.
Healthcare, just like education and security, is one of the most critical services that governments must strive to give the people as it has a direct impact on wealth creation, family fortunes and national wellbeing.
It is disheartening that some governors have not made any commitment to the health workers even as the national government issues threats to striking nurses. So far, only three have made the commitment, which is commendable, while 33 others have promised to sign the pay deal in coming weeks.
Governors must learn to honour the commitments they make with those who deliver services to the public.
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