Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-03 15:12:09
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has raised concerns over the assault on the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General, Davji Atellah, and faulted Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha for her role in the incident. KNUN’s Secretary General, Seth Panyako, criticized Nakhumicha’s handling of the situation, stating that she could have done more to prevent the chaos that led to Davji being hit with a teargas canister on February 29.
Panyako questioned Nakhumicha’s actions, particularly as she had previously assured them of accompanying them to the Treasury to demand funds, but ended up requesting the police to conduct the assault instead. He called for the Cabinet Secretary to explain her position on the attack and clarify her involvement in the police’s actions to disperse the protestors.
Regarding the delayed posting of medical interns, KNUN defended the Health Ministry, stating that the government’s failure to disburse funds was the reason for the delay. Panyako confirmed that the ministry had not received the necessary funding to facilitate the posting of interns and blamed corruption within the government for the lack of funds.
KNUN emphasized that corruption, not lack of money, was the root cause of issues within the healthcare system, including the posting of interns. The union threatened to initiate a strike in solidarity with doctors if no action was taken against the police involved in the assault on Davji.
In addition, KNUN expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to withdraw the EduAfya program for students and the comprehensive medical cover for civil servants. They called out the government for failing to prioritize the welfare of healthcare workers and students.
On the other hand, Health Cabinet Secretary Nakhumicha defended herself, stating that the assault on Davji was unintentional and that she had communicated the same to him. She clarified that her ministry was not responsible for the delay in posting interns and claimed that they were powerless to address the issue.
Overall, the rift between KNUN and the Health Ministry highlights the deep-seated issues within Kenya’s healthcare system, ranging from delayed funding to corruption. The demands for accountability, transparency, and proper allocation of resources are crucial to ensure the well-being of healthcare workers and the delivery of quality healthcare services to the people of Kenya.
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