Why the governors have to be jailed over the nurses strike
Josphat Koli Nanok chairman council of governors.
Every citizen in the republic Kenya under chapter four of the constitution is entitled to proper physical, mental health and human dignity. The continued nurses strike does not only infringe into these rights but has also brought untold suffering among Kenyans who depend on public hospitals for their health care. Primary health care has been brought to a halt while the children are missing the much needed life saving vaccinations. This puts the country at an increased risk of a major outbreak of some of these immunizable and preventable diseases. Lives have been lost because they cannot get the much needed nursing care.
Nurses play a pivotal role in any healthcare setting. They give life and are there during ones last hours of life. They are alsothere during grieving. They play an important role in primary health care. Nurses have been left with the responsibility of ensuring the health of many Kenyans even in the remotest of our land.
Despite all these, nurses have been ignored for a very long time. Their career development has been ignored and nurses continue to earn very little despite the important role they play. Nurses continue to work in deplorable conditions with some left to theirown means. The authorities demand monthly reports notwithstanding the nurses working conditions.
The constitution guarantees Kenyans a right to association. Nurses are demonstrating their right through a legal strike. The governors and other authorities have turned a blind eye to the nurses grievances. The SRC has in many occasions said that the nurses CBA is expensive to implement while it has on the other hand signed CBAs for other professionals. This is very discriminatory by all explanations.
The governors have refused to engage the authorities thereby they continue to prolong the nurses strike and deny Kenyans their basic right to health. This is criminal in nature and they should be prosecuted and jailed. It is wrong for Kenyanscontinue suffering and it is also wrong for the government to continue ignoring the nurses. The government should work to see that the nurses CBA is signed and implemented.
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