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Trans Nzoia: Doctors continue strike

Trans Nzoia: Doctors continue strike
Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba when he appeared before CPAIC over audited accounts of his county. Photo/PD/SAMUEL KARIUKI
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Trans Nzoia County doctors who are members of KMPDU make real their threat of not going back to work on the sixth day paralyzing services in all hospitals within the county.

The county governor Patrick Khaemba orders the doctors to go back to work saying their grievances will be addressed and warned that those who fail to report back will be removed from payroll for engaging in an illegal boycott.
In Summary

The edics want the county government to pay them allowances and accrued salaries before going back to work, telling the county administration that the threats will not deter them from demanding for their rights.

All government hospitals remained deserted Wednesday as the doctors’ strike  entered the  sixth day  with patients left to seek for alternative medical services as others went to private medical facilities.

The more than 9 doctors who have now been joined by the nurses, laboratory technicians, and other cadres are demanding for promotions, settlement of their three months salaries, remittance of NHIF.

Through their North -Rift regional secretary Dr. Ismael Aiyabey, the medics maintained that they will not be returning back to work until all their demands among them the comprehensive cover are fully addressed.

“The issue of perennial salary delay has been here for the last 5 years with the county government of Trans nzoia taking doctors round the circles like recently using the senate as a scape goat. We will not at all go back to work until our issues are fully addressed,” said Dr. Aiyabey.

Another Doctor Zaituni Akajoroit Mulaa was at pains recounting how a newly posted doctor who developed kidney failure and urgently needed a transplant failed to have the process go through after the county government failing to help until doctors contributed their own money to bail her out.

”We contributed money to enable our colleague to go for a transplant that was successful but most expensive since the review is done after every two weeks and costing sh.50,000.

The comprehensive medical cover in the CBA should have been used to offset all bills,” said Dr. Zaituni in Kitale.

The Kenya National Union of Nurses ( KNUN) in Trans nzoia through their secretary Willy sifuna accused the county government for failing to reach out to the medics to end the stalemate and warned that any threats would only compound to worsening the situation with patients becoming casualties.
 

”The governor has failed to demonstrate that he is indeed interested in putting on table a clear gesture towards having the implementation of the collective bargaining agreement settled. Medics will not be intimidated and chased around  each and every time with such disturbing sentiments,” said Sifuna.

Sifuna asked the governor to meet the health workers’ demands and bring to book his county officers for diverting money earlier approved for the purpose of implementing the promotions of medical workers.

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