By Okong’o Oduya
In what seems to avert the nurses strike in Busia County governor Sospeter Ojaamong recently converged with heads of all health institutions to address critical issues around the on going strike in Busia County.
During a meeting with health workers , Ojaamong assured nurses that the issues affecting them are manageable and will be sorted out once and for all. This comes barely two days after they abandoned their work stations demanding for promotion of all nurses in the county who deserve promotions.
“I have not refused to promote anybody. I am ready to promote and give you your arrears; my love for the health sector in the county is immeasurable considering that I have surpassed the target of 247 health workers whom the union wanted to be promoted by 10 people. I want to assure you that I Am fighting for health workers rights which include mortgage and pension scheme and I will not rest until you get it,” He said.
The governor later on met union leaders, County health committee officials .
Ojaamong appointed a team led by his chief officer Dr. Maurice Siminyu to investigate problems facing the sector and submit a report for immediate action.
In the company, Ojaamong was with the county secretary Nicodemus Mulaku, county public service board chairperson Agneta Akhaabi and the county Assembly health committee chairman Ishmael Orodi.
After a lengthy meeting with nurses Dr. Siminyu said they will document problems facing the health sector in terms of priorities and address the top three issues.
“We are engaging the governor tomorrow with our list in the presence of union officials. I am optimistic that sense will be arrived and the strike will be called off as soon as possible.”
He also revealed that the governor had appointed a team that will visit various health facilities to inspect levels of service delivery .
Similarly, First lady Busia County Mrs. Judy Ojaamong visited Busia County Teaching and Referral Hospital to assess the situation at the hospital caused by the nurse and doctors strike that entered third day on last week thursday.
Mrs. Ojaamong who is also the hospital’s patron appealed to leaders of the national union of nurses to consider lives of innocent citizens who cannot afford medical services in private hospitals.
“As the union and the executive meet to find solutions to the problems facing the sector it is my believe that the parties will agree to end the strike to enable normalcy to return in all our health facilities across the county,” she said.
She said that the demand by the medical professionals are manageable, she urged the union to hear her cries and other patients and have their members back to work as the matter is addressed.
In what was seen as a motherly spirit Judy transferred Grace Aboo who is suffering from Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity) to Tanaka hospital and promised to settle the entire bills during her admission there.
At the same time the first lady pledged to clear the bill for violet Maiga of 4, 490 KSH she owes the institution.
At the maternity wing Mrs. Ojaamong cleared the bills of 4, 310 KSH of two women who were due for discharge. Lucy Akinyi from Ukwala owed the facility 2,500Ksh while Grace Anyango from port victoria had bill of 1, 810 KSH.
