Nurses working with Cuban doctors should not be reduced to translators

Health CS Sicily Kariuki has expressed concern that nurses working with Cuban doctors have been reduced to translators.

Speaking in Embu County on Monday, the CS noted that nurses are professional medical practitioners just like doctors.

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“I am responsible for doctors but I am equally responsible for nurses as well, that’s why I have been sent here.

“Nurses are professionals too; they should not be in the same room with the Cuban doctors only to translate,”

The newly-arrived Cuban doctors reportedly prefer to diagnose patients themselves.

However, the CS insists that nurses should be part of the process as they were before.

“Nurses want their work respected and for the universal health care agenda to be achieved, they need to feel that their work is respected,” said Kariuki.

“Our nurses need to be given the assurance that they will be able to attend to patients and exercise their professionalism without any hindrance.”

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The hiring of Cuban doctors had raised hope that provision of healthcare across the country would be significantly improved.