Clinical Services in all public health facilities in Homa-Bay County have been paralyzed after more than 300 clinical officers downed their tools due to a number of unresolved grievances by the county government.
The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers Homa-Bay branch outlined schemes of service, Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), promotion of clinical officers who have been in service for a long period of time as some of the key issues that the county government has failed to sign and implement.
Speaking to KNA at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital’s compound on Tuesday, the Branch Executive Secretary Philip Mbom said that the strike has been ongoing since November 1, this year thus paralyzing all clinical services.
Mbom further alleged that the county government has not been remitting contributions like NHIF, NSSF and Bank loans for the last three months while union dues remittance was stopped since October last year without proper reasons.
On his part, the Chairperson, Steve Omondi said that the county government has also refused to promote some of their members despite their qualifications, adding that some counties have promoted their clinical officers to next job groups.
The Branch Union’s Treasurer, Felix Ouko stated that some of the services that are now crippled include, dialysis, Caesarian section, theatre, chest clinics, outpatient among others.
However, contacted for comments, the County Executive Member for Health, Prof. Richard Muga promised that their grievances will be addressed by the relevant departments and appealed to Union officials to call off the strike to allow room for negotiation.
By Naomi Wandede/Davis Langat
