Nurses, doctors at Busia hospital threaten strike over unhygienic conditions

Nurses, doctors at Busia hospital threaten strike over unhygienic conditions

The nurses’ union in Busia County is threatening to withdraw its members from Busia County Referral Hospital over an unhygienic working environment.

The nurses are accusing the hospital management and Busia County Government of relaxing on cleanliness, therefore, exposing them to risk of contracting diseases such as typhoid.

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Busia branch secretary general, Zedekiah Musuku, blamed the situation to the county government’s failure to pay cleaners at the facility.

“Our members cannot continue working in a dirty environment. We are giving the county government an opportunity to pay the cleaners or we ask our members to stay at work,” warned Musuku.

The nurses’ grievances were supported by the doctors at the facility who said that the situation has hit a crisis level, with patients being compelled to undertake cleanliness duties.

Doctors’ union boss in Busia County, Dr Sande Charo, termed the situation as a major hindrance to health services delivery at the facility.

“The wards [stink], garbage has not been collected. There is even no electricity because the generator is not working. It is clearly visible that the ministry of health in Busia County has failed. Doctors cannot continue working in this kind of environment,” said Dr Charo.

Patients at the facility are pleading with the county government to improve sanitation especially at the maternity wards.

“The biggest menace here is the used materials that they are dumping here. They are dumping syringes, used bandages and other types of garbage,” lamented a patient.

(Story written by Moses Ngugi)

 

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Busia county Sospeter Ojaamang Busia Referral Hospital

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