Kenya Stares at Health Crisis as Doctors Join Nurses on Strike
Kenya is staring at a health crisis after doctors announced their strike will begin on Monday.
This comes after talks between the government and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials broke down.
The union said doctors’ grievances remain unresolved even after eight months of engagement with the government.
“Doctors will withdraw their labor in accordance with Article 41 of the Constitution and after the lapse of the 21-day strike notice issued on November 16th and suspended for 14 additional days,” KMPDU said in a notice.
Cadres of doctors who will down their tools include medical officer interns, pharmacist interns, and dental officer interns.
Others are medical officers, pharmacists, dentists, medical specialists (consultants), medical superintendents, county directors of health, doctor administrators, and sub-county medical officers.
Doctors are mainly protesting the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPEs) in hospitals and medical insurance cover to those in the frontline fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe warned health workers that they risk losing their jobs if they proceed with the strike.
“I urge you to resume work to avoid losing your job. Please do not lose your job. As we go towards Christmas, the festive season, do not be another statistic that will be a job seeker next year. Please go back to where you are supposed to be,” he said.
KMPDU acting secretary-general Chibanzi Mwachonda hit back at CS Mutahi Kagwe, accusing him of being insensitive and arrogant.
“This is the level of insensitivity & arrogance health care workers have to deal with, raising grievances on your welfare and safety in COVID-19 is a crime. The ‘appreciation’ to health care workers in the country is illaudable,” he wrote on Twitter.
Nurses and clinical officers are already on strike to demand comprehensive medical cover and personal protective equipment, among other things.