All Nairobi health Care workers have received their COVID 19 allowances, Health Chief Administrative Secretary ( CAS) Dr. Mercy Mwangangi has said
This follows a 7 day strike notice given by the Nairobi County Doctors through their union where they cited nonpayment of their allowances, Poor PPEs and also comprehensive medical cover.
The CAS said that Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) confirmed that they had already paid the allowances , the Ministry had also been issuing PPEs and were now initiating the fourth round of PPES and also there was a budget ready for a comprehensive health Care coverage.
Speaking today during today’s briefing on the COVID 19 situation in the country, Mwangangi said, “COVID allowances have been paid and we have records to demonstrate this and we also continue to issue to the right PPE as required”.
The CAS however said as a ministry they have placed mechanism and encouraged any health care worker who might come across any defective PPEs to take the Kit to the Ministry for the necessary action.
On the issue of promotion which the Nairobi Doctors were also complaining about, Dr. Mwangangi acknowledged that there has been a slight challenge but it was being worked on.
“Following the institution of NMS, there was a slight delay in transfer of payroll from Nairobi county to NMS but now the transition is being worked on and we have been assured they are working on it”, she said
On a positive note, the CAS said that today morning over 2000 health care workers who are non-doctors have actually gotten their promtion and re- designation which has been effected but for the remaining Doctors, she said a budget has been availed and that they will receive their promotions and proper designations soon.
Concerning the Isolation facilities for health care workers, the CAS also confirmed that the ministry has been partnering with the NMS and there are two quarantine facilities that are available for occupancy if required by any health care workers one at KNH and another at the Royal Tulip Hotel/.
Dr. Mwangangi has also come out to acknowledge that there has been a delay on the NHIF cover for the health care workers but noted that there has been progress and that a budget is now available to cover them.
“ Last week 7th august negotiations already started and are due to be completed in the coming week and they receive an enhanced cover under civil servants scheme”, she promised saying that NMS will continue to engage on a monthly basis with the Union to address issues of health care workers in an amicable manner.
Turning to our COVID-19 statistics, the CAS said that today 580 people have tested positive from 5,458 samples tested in the last 24 hours.
This now brings to 29,334 the number of positive cases pushing our cumulative tests to 381, 317 and form the cases 530 are Kenyans while 50 are foreigners, 336 are males and 244 females while the youngest case is a one-year-old baby while the oldest is 92.
The distribution of the cases by Counties is Nairobi leads with 375, followed by Kiambu 53, Machakos 23, Busia 17, Mombasa 15, Nakuru 15, Kajiado 14, Kisumu 12, lamu 10, Nyeri 7, Kakamega 5, Makueni 4, Samburu 4, Uasin- Gishu 4, Killifi 3, Laikipia 3, Baringo 2, Kisii 2, Kitui 2, Trukana 2, Vihiga 2, Garissa 1 Bungoma 1 Murang’a 1, Nyandarua 1, Siaya 1, and Trans-Nzoia 1.
“I am delighted to inform you that 198 patients have recovered from the disease. From this number 119 are from the Home-based Care programme, while 79 have been discharged from various hospitals. This brings the total number of recoveries to 15,298:”, the CAS said .
Dr. Mwangangi added that unfortunately the county has 5 patients to the disease, bringing the fatality to 465.
Dr. Kepha Ombacho, Director of Public health Services explained that all the donations received by the Ministry of health from well-wishers and also governments is distributed out to counties accordingly .
“All donations coming are subjected to a quality test to ensure they are meeting the standards, then we move to KEMSA and they are distributed based on burden of counties and this we have been doing progressively as they come in “, he said
Dr. Ombacho said the distribution covers facilities within counties but also those under national government such as KHN, KU hospital, Moi teaching and referral and also government emergencies such as the immigration.
By Wangari Ndirangu
