Editor's Review

KMPDU claimed that doctors were overwhelmed by taking up nursing duties.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has demanded that the national and county governments address the ongoing nurses' strike within the next seven days, or doctors will down their tools.

Speaking on Monday, September 7, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said that the prolonged nurses strike, which entered its 41st day, has left doctors overwhelmed.

He stated that most doctors have been forced to take up roles traditionally performed by nurses, while administering healthcare services to patients.

Atellah added that the nurses' strike has limited access to nursing care in majoity of the hospitals, which has led to some deaths in some cases.

"Nursing care is key for any health service to be functional. It is increasingly becoming unsafe when doctors are overburdened; doctors cannot do the nursing jobs.

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A file photo of KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah with CS Aden Duale.

"There are many paediatric and maternal deaths which we could have otherwise prevented. We are noticing a lack of attitude to resolve the problem," Atellah stated.

The SG claimed that the issues being raised by the burses were not new, and called on the government to respect the signed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and court orders.

He further called out the government for not effecting promises made to doctors, including the review of salaries in the month of August, and hinted that the medics will also be back to the streets to have their own grievances addressed.

According to the Ministry of Health, 458 perinatal and 75 maternal deaths have been recorded since the beginning of the nurses' strike.

Several patients who have been turned away from public hospitals were forced to seek medical care in private facilities, which are more costly.

The nurses’ strike, which began on July 29, has disrupted services in public hospitals across the country. Nurses are demanding implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement, better pay and allowances, promotions, adequate staffing and improved working conditions.