Governors and Nurses' Union at Odds Over Overseas Healthcare Deployment

The umbrella organization representing nurses has differed with governors over the government's plan to send healthcare workers overseas.

Governors are opposing the plan, citing a severe shortage of healthcare personnel in the country. However, the National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) has a different perspective, stating that the shortage is due to county governments not hiring enough nurses. The conflict escalated last week when Governor Muthomi Njuki criticized the national government for exporting medical professionals while there was a shortage within the country.

Njuki expressed concern about a potential crisis in the public health sector. In response, NNAK Chairperson Collins Ajwang' has dismissed the governors' concerns and blames county administrations for neglecting the employment needs of nurses. Ajwang points out the significant difference between the nurse-to-patient ratio in Kenya and the World Health Organization's recommended standards. Kenya falls well below the WHO benchmark, with only eight nurses available per 10,000 individuals, while the recommended ratio is 25 nurses per 10,000 patients.

Nurses opt to work overseas due to unfavourable working conditions in their home country. The lack of competitive employment terms, incentives, and career progression opportunities offered by counties has been criticized. These conditions fail to retain qualified healthcare workers and encourage migration. Additionally, Ajwang' highlights the financial burden faced by nurses, including delayed promotions, irregular salary payments, and statutory deductions. He stresses the importance of providing permanent and pensionable employment terms to ensure nurses' retention and job satisfaction.

Despite the critique, the government has taken proactive steps to facilitate nurses' migration abroad, planning to send a large number to Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. Ajwang' emphasizes that Kenyan nurses' high-quality training and competence make them highly sought after in the global market. He expresses nurses' support for the overseas deployment initiative and their willingness to collaborate closely with relevant departments. However, he urges counties to reconsider their approach to healthcare, recognizing it as an investment rather than a mere expense.