Kiambu County government has promoted 700 healthcare workers in a bid to boost their morale and improve services in the county.
The promoted healthcare workers drawn from the 36 Cadres in the county’s health department were issued with promotion letters on Tuesday April 25 by area Governor Kimani Wamatangi.
Speaking during the Confirmation ceremony of the promotion of the healthcare workers at the county headquarters in Kiambu, Governor Wamatangi said the move is aimed at boosting the morale of healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of providing quality health care services in the county.
“The promotion is part of the county’s commitment towards improving healthcare services in the county and to enhance staff retention and attract the best workforce from all over the country,” he said
Wamatangi disclosed that the County Government is currently constructing 11 new healthcare facilities and renovating 13 others, which include level four and three facilities.
“This week the County Government will advertise tenders for the construction and upgrading of Gachororo health centre in Juja and Karuri hospital level four facilities; in addition, hospital equipment worth over Sh150 million will be distributed,” cited Wamatangi
This development comes after Healthcare workers from about six counties including Kisumu, Mombasa, Nyamira, Vihiga, Bomet and Nyandarua counties, have been reported to be striking due to delayed salary payment and more counties are set to join.
In a press briefing issued on Tuesday last week, workers drawn from various unions criticised some devolved units for deliberately frustrating healthcare workers by failing to pay salaries and remit their statutory deductions on time.
The unions which included, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists, Kenya Health Professional Society and Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dieticians said “health workers are in a difficult financial situation and as a result, they are unable to meet their daily needs, including transportation, food, and accommodation expenses”.
According to WHO, the prescribed health worker density ratio is determined as 23 doctors, nurses and midwives for every 10,000 people.
However, data shows that the health workforce ratio in Kenya stands at 13 doctors, nurses, and midwives for every 10,000 people.
Kenya had a total of 189,932 health workers in 2020 with 66 per cent being in the public sector and 58 per cent, 13 per cent and seven per cent being nurses, clinical officers and doctors, respectively.
The Health Cabinet secretary Susan Nakhumicha however reported last week that the government plans to hire 20,000 healthcare workers to be absorbed in the next three-year period, to bridge the doctor, nurse and midwife ratios as recommended by the World Health Organisation.
By Grace Naishoo
