Kakamega doctors end strike after Oparanya intervenes

Seated from left: Kakamega County Secretary Jacinta Aluoch, KMPDU Kakamega branch secretary Sande Charo and Health CEC Rachael Okumu during a press briefing in Kakamega, yesterday. [Mumo Munuve, Standard]

Doctors in Kakamega County have call off a three-day strike after Governor Wycliffe Oparanya intervened.

The governor stepped in following public outcry and pressure from religious leaders and lobby groups.

Relatives of critically ill patients had been forced to seek treatment in private hospitals.

The doctors had demanded reinstatement of three of their colleagues who had been sacked for going on study leave. The medics demanded a review of their jobs groups and promotions, and also wanted the county to address under-staffing.

Addressing the media yesterday in Kakamega town, Sande Charo, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Western branch secretary, said doctors would resume works today at 8am since their grievances had been addressed.

Promotions

“We had been holed up in meetings with health officials for close to five hours and we want to confirm that at least 19 doctors have been promoted and promotions for medics in the common cadre establishment is also ongoing,” said Dr Charo.

Charo said the three doctors who had been sacked and removed from the payroll for 12 months had been reinstated and all their arrears would be paid this month.

“We have also established that an internal advertisement has been made for doctors who are supposed to undergo suitability interview for promotions affecting over 1,139 healthcare workers, including doctors,” he said.

Rachel Okumu, the Kakamega County Executive Committee Member for Health, said the county would give priority to the welfare of the doctors and healthcare workers.

Ms Okumu said shortage of drugs had been addressed after they ordered for more worth Sh47 million from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa). She said the drugs would be delivered in two weeks.

She could not explain why the county government opted to outsource non-pharmaceuticals that is four times expensive compared to Kemsa's.

Earlier, a spot check by The Standard established that admission of patients in public health facilities in the county had decreased, as doctors were nowhere to be seen.

Clinical officers

Patients at the Kakamega County Teaching and Referral Hospital, Matungu, Butere, Khwisero, Lumakanda and Malava were being attended to by clinical officers.

“We appreciate Governor Oparanya for heeding our call and having dialogue with the striking doctors, since the patients were suffering. He must go an extra mile and address the issue of under-staffing in all health facilities in the county,” said Bishop Charles Asilutwa.

The Anglican Church of Kenya Maseno North Diocesan cleric said the county’s referral hospital needed more than 70 doctors with different specialisation as opposed to half the number currently, making it difficult for patients requiring complex operations to get specialised treatment.

“Just as Oparanya is committed to beautifying Kakamega and Mumias towns and its environs, we also want him to use the same zeal and energy to restore sanity in the health sector,” said Bishop Asilutwa. []