Counties

Nakuru County set to hire 150 nurses

nurse

A nurse monitors a baby at an Intensive Care Unit. Photo | Suleiman Mbatiah | NMG

Nakuru County is set to employ 150 more nurses on contract terms to help fill in critical gaps as it aims at providing improved health services in the region.

County Public Service Board chairman, Dr Waithanji Mutiti, on Monday said the new staff will be stationed at various health facilities in the 11 sub-counties.

“We are hiring 150 nurses to boost health services delivery in various facilities. The health care givers will be employed on 6 months contract, but they will later be absorbed permanently,” said Dr Mutiti.

According to the official, interviews for the positions will be conducted this week.

“We want our people to receive quality health services across the County. The nurses' shortage in some facilities will also be sealed,” added Dr Mutiti.

The cosmopolitan county with a population of about 2 million people has approximately 1,200 nurses, translating to 60 nurses per 100,000 people.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 44.5 physicians, nurses and midwives per 10,000 people to meet Strategic Development Goals (SDGs).

Governor Lee Kinyanjui, during his first week in office, had formed a health taskforce to address challenges ailing the sector.

Led by former Egerton University Vice Chancellor, Prof James Tuitoek, the team visited various public health facilities in the 11 sub-counties.

It was given 30 days to give recommendations on the health situation in the county, with hiring of more medical staff among the suggestions by the taskforce.

County boss Lee Kinyanjui is banking on recommendations from the report to help turn around the region's health sector.

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