This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
Health workers in Nyanza region are on the brink of a serious health crisis as they strike over key demands, including salary arrears and sufficient protection, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unless county governments swiftly address the grievances, the strike will jeopardize efforts and investments in the Covid-19 fight in Siaya, Homa Bay, and Kisii counties, where community infections are on the rise.
Doctors in Siaya County have issued a seven-day notice and intend to down their tools on Monday, following their counterparts in Homa Bay County, who went on strike just a week ago.
Health workers in Kisii County are planning to strike on Tuesday, but Governor James Ongwae has promised to ensure they are paid by next week.
Siaya's health workers have a litany of grievances, including late salaries, delayed promotions, and insufficient supply of PPEs. Local officials of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KPMDU) accuse Siaya of reneging on its pledge to promote the doctors and implement a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
On July 24, the union wrote a protest letter to the county, accusing Health executive Dorothy Owino of being behind attempts to frustrate implementation of their demands.
Ms Owino told the Nation that the department was doing everything possible to avert the strike, saying, "It is a top priority issue which the county government and the respective unions are addressing."
Siaya has confirmed 55 Covid-19 cases, including a member of Governor Cornel Rasanga's cabinet. Education executive Mary Olute tested positive on Monday and was airlifted to Nairobi for medical attention.
Meanwhile, in Homa Bay, patients are desperate as the strike continues, with some asking the county to intervene quickly to save lives. At the county referral hospital, five wards were closed, and patients were transferred to private hospitals.
Private hospitals in Homa Bay are reaping from increasing admissions, with patients from vulnerable families seeking help from doctors from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), who have taken over operations at the health facility.
