Migori County Governor Zachary Obado has appealed to striking medical officers to resume duty because his government has addressed their complaints.
Obado in his passionate appeal speech while receiving medical equipment from the United States Agency for International Development- Kenya at Migori Level Four Hospital asked health officers and doctors who have now joined the national medical-industrial strike action to reconsider their decision and go back to work.
He said he has always encouraged medical workers in Migori County to be open for dialogue as the only ultimate solution for their grievances.
Obado who appeared not happy by collective national industrial strike action appealed to striking health officers to ignore the national call saying each county had unique challenges.
“I don’t now see why we should be pulled back by the shortcomings in other counties that have got their unique challenges,” Obado said.
The Governor invited the striking officers for more dialogue to solve their grievances.
“What do you want me to do as your Governor so that you resume work?” Obado asked a team of workers who attended the ceremony.
The Governor said his government has consistently promoted and emphasized addition of medical practitioners as per their demands. He said he had improved physical facilities at the county local health centres, adding the comprehensive NHIF medical cover as demanded by the workers had been put into the budget.
Meanwhile, Obado commissioned new Migori Level Four Amenity Wing as an executive section for health services. According to him, Sh. 68 million was used to construct the facility. The facility has 65 bed capacity for the maternity wing component.
USAID Kenya donated four high-end ventilators to be used by critically sick people especially Covid-19 patients. The number of ventilators now ready for use in Migori County is eight.
By Geoffrey Satia
