Healthcare unions maintain that strike is on, lit candles for their fallen colleagues

The officials revealed that the disease had so far claimed 113 medics including community healthcare workers. Nine clinicians had lost their lives.

By Mourice Seretta

Health workers unions have maintained that they will not be going back to hospitals anytime soon unless their grievances to the government are heard and addressed.

The unions that include Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers and many other unions who congregated at Uhuru Park Nairobi to hold prayers and lit candles in honour of their fallen colleagues who have died in the recent past due to Covid-19, the union’s leaders maintained that unless the government addresses their plight.

KNUN deputy general secretary Maurice Opetu and KUCO Secretary-General George Gobire blamed the government for neglecting the plight of the frontline soldiers adding that their demand for better working conditions and protection had been ignored.

The officials revealed that the disease had so far claimed 113 medics including community healthcare workers. Nine clinicians had lost their lives.

“We have no one to cry for us. We will not relent until our demands are met and we will not be considerate this time and we say enough is enough. Therefore the strike continues.” Opetu said.

The health workers on Monday made good their threat to boycott work over poor working conditions.

They allege that the government has failed to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) saying that has badly exposed them to the disease that they say has led to the death of more than 100 health workers.

The health workers also want the government to compensate families of the health workers who have died from Covid-19 and get them a comprehensive medical cover.