By Fred Kibor
Elgeyo/Marakwet, Kenya: The Elgeyo/Marakwet government has completed a head count of health workers in the county.
The government was forced to conduct the exercise after claims that health workers were deserting duty.
Some of the targeted workers include doctors, clinical officers, nurses and pharmacists.
The head count was supervised by County Health Director Sammy Osore and other officials from the national and county governments.
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Dr Osore said they were determined to rid the health sector in the area of “cheats and ghost workers”.
County Public Service Board Chairman Gideon Kipyakwai said initially the health workers were hesitant to take part in the audit.
He said the audit unearthed the existence of ghost workers, especially in district hospitals.
“The reference point of our head count has been data from the Public Service Commission,” he said.
Kipyakwai said the PSC data revealed that some workers had been transferred from the region to Narok County, but their transfers had not been effected.
The exercise also uncovered chronic absenteeism among doctors.
