Newly elected officials of the Kenya Environmental Health and Public Health Practitioners Union Elgeyo Marakwet chapter have promised to engage the county government in addressing issues affecting their members.
The Chapter Executive Secretary David Kipsang said he will be firm in defending and articulating issues facing public health officials key among them their promotion.
Giving his maiden speech after being declared the winner in the elections which were presided over by the union Secretary General Brian Wachira, Kipsang expressed concern that for a long time, the department issues have been neglected due to lack of representation.
He said while some of the officers were promoted last November, majority who have qualified for the same have been left out which has led to demotivation.
Kipsang said given the critical role that PHO’s play in the health sector, there was a need to ensure they have a motivated staff who will deliver on the preventive services.
The national secretary general said the union will continue engaging with the authorities to better the welfare of their members saying unions were no longer about fighting but partnering with county governments to address the various human resource matters affecting their members.
“We want to win our wars in the boardroom because we don’t believe in fighting but in engaging so that we can have structures that are functional for our members in the county,” he said.
The County Executive Committee Member for health Monica Rotich welcomed the formation of the union promising to engage with them to improve service delivery in the county saying public health was key in the government’s agenda of Universal Health Coverage.
By Alice Wanjiru and Joan Jelimo
