Over 1,500 Migori medics call off strike across public hospitals after talks with county officials

December 9, 2024 - Migori County, Nyanza News - no comments

BY MANUEL ODENY

Medics officials and county government officers in Migori town on Monday when they called off the strike

Over 1,500 Migori medics through their respective unions have call off strike across public hospitals after talks with county officials hours before it started.

On Monday officials from five unions met with county government officials led by County Secretary Oscar Olima in Migori town where they called off the strike which was to start at midnight.

“We have met with officials of all unions and have a reasonable and amicable conclusion which will avert the looming strike, services across all 16o public health facilities will continue smoothly,” Olima said.

He said the three grievances will be tackled according to a return to work formula they agreed on.

“We did not have a board to recruit staff and we are currently in the process of addressing staff shortage and promotions which have been outlined in the two demands, the last demand of comprehensive insurance cover will be addressed too,” he sid.

Ben Onoka, who is a medic official said the strike has been suspended.

Migori residents are starring at health crisis as over 1,500 medics across all departments are set to join industrial action of strike on Monday midnight.

Speaking to the press at Migori Referral Hospital on Saturday, officials from five unions jointly said they will paralyse all operations in county public hospitals until their demands are met.

On November 25 the unions wrote to the county government through county secretary Oscar Olima giving their 14 days strike notice which will elapse on Monday midnight.

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNU), Kenya National Union of Medical Laboratory Officers (KNUMLO), The Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologist and Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union wrote the later.

They demanded promotion and re-designations, addressing of staff shortage by the county board and the third one is to offer comprehensive insurance cover.

“We have given Migori an olive branch for long and despite our efforts we have been ignored, we are frustrated and betrayed by this administration and the best will be to go on strike,” Mourine Maramba, representing clinical officers said.