Migori nurses call for strike over delayed promotions

Health officials in Migori County have announced ‘a major strike’ beginning Monday over delayed promotions.

At least 550 nurses drawn from the eight sub-counties have vowed to boycott work at the 209 health facilities until their grievances are addressed by the county Government.

“We will only call off the strike when our demands are met…we need our promotions to be effected immediately and re-designation of nurses who were upgraded from certificate to diploma,’’ said Catherine Tingo, the branch Secretary of the Kenya National Union of Nurses.

She also pressed for the payment of arrears of those recently promoted to ensure harmony.

She asked the residents to take their patients to private health facilities in the county until when the strike will be called off.

“Don’t bother coming to public hospitals because we will not be there to admit or to treat patients,” said Ms Tingo.

The union’s Vice – Chairman Mosse Mariga and deputy secretary Ndoro Mikah said past meetings with the county administration had borne them little fruits.

He said many doctors had resigned from the service due to the stand-off.

Early this month, the Migori County Government promoted 300 nurses and clinical officers but the union lamented that the “promotions have not been reflected in our pay-slips”.

“Those promotions are just on paper and our members are yet to receive the money,” said Ms Tingo.

The promotions mainly targeted nurses and clinical officers, who had complained of stagnating in their job groups for years.

At least 250 nurses and 52 clinical officers benefitted from the move.

In a rejoinder, however, Health Department Chief Officer Dalmas Oyugi differed with the nurses saying “the promotions are real and not hot air”.

“We have issued letters promoting some of them…they should appreciate that promotions are continuous processes and not a one-off thing,” he stated.

“Other professional cadres are going to be considered later and they should not get worried,” he added.

Dr Oyugi further explained that another 78 employees were re-designated to areas relevant to “their education and training”, he added.

The official appealed to the nurses to consider the plight of poor patients who cannot afford the high cost of private health facilities.

“Let them consider those who are already admitted in the wards and whose relatives have no money to relocate them to private hospitals…the county Government has tried the much it can to address their grievances,” appealed Dr Oyugi.