This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
On the eve of a potential strike, over 800 nurses in Homa Bay County are demanding timely salary payments and adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a letter to the Homa Bay health department, dated April 22, 2020, the nurses have given a two-day strike notice, citing delayed salary payments and a shortage of PPE as major concerns.
As of March, the nurses had not received their salaries, with their employer failing to comply with the agreed-upon payment terms. 'We agreed we would get paid before the fifth of every month, but our employer hasn't complied. We'll not go to work from Thursday if they don't pay us,' said Omondi Nyonje, secretary of the National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK).
The nurses are also concerned about the inadequate distribution of PPE, with only 150 masks being provided daily to health staff, despite an agreement to distribute at least 400 masks per sub-county.
Chairperson Dina Pinya emphasized the importance of PPE in protecting nurses on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight. 'The demand for masks has increased especially in hospitals. Nurses are on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19, hence they should get protected,' she said.
However, the county health Chief Officer Gerald Akeche attributed the delayed salary remittance to the prevailing economic situation and assured that talks are underway to address the issues.
Published on April 22, 2020, at 18:33:10, this article highlights the critical situation facing healthcare workers in Homa Bay County and the need for timely action to prevent a strike that could paralyze healthcare services.
