The Government through the Ministry of Health is committed to bringing back the professional standards of nurses in Kenya.
Health Principal Secretary PS), Dr Josephine Mburu, assured the nurses that the Government will bring back the nursing code of dressing for nurses, to exude decency and professionalism.
“We need to bring back the professional standard of nurses through their attires and in the Ministry, we have 32 different types of colours for their dress code,” Mburu reiterated.
While gracing the International Nurses and Midwives Week Celebrations in Nairobi in honour of Florence Nightingale, the founder of nursing, the PS said that the government is committed to improving primary health care services for its citizen.
She further insisted that the government has plans in improving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Kenyans through the Ministry.
The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Secretary General, Dr Maurice Opetu, pleaded with the PS to employ the Council of Governors, to implement recommendations of public employment pension, so as to convert their employment scheme to Permanent and Pensionable.
Opetu requested the government to review, increase and release their salaries on time, urging that the cost of living is skyrocketing and the salaries cannot contain the needs of their families.
“We request the government to review and increase our salaries, we are struggling with high costs of living and we cannot meet the obligations of our families.” Opetu appealed.
He further added that the KNUN will reject any kind of taxes that will be imposed on the already struggling nurses.
In a quick rejoinder, the PS asked the KNUN to put their needs in a memorandum, which will be then taken to the Council of Governors, which will then be served to the President.
By Ali Sheikh Mohamed
