The lawmakers passed a motion asking NMS to ensure that health workers’ grievances are addressed before the doctors go on strike on December 7.
Nurses also threatened to follow suit and cripple the health sector which has already been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
MCAs warned that Nairobians would bear the burden if the doctors proceed on strike yet the government had the power to negotiate with medics.
They urged Badi’s team to expedite the payment of improved risk allowances and provide an adequate medical cover.
The politicians further want NMS to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to all health care workers.
With the death of health workers rising, the MCAs urged NMS to exempt medics with pre-existing conditions from reporting to duty.
NMS took over the Health functions after Governor Mike Sonko signed the deed of transfer that moved a number of departments to the Badi-led team.
Badi detailed that he would build 24 health facilities in the county. In October 2020, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe confirmed that the hospitals were nearing completion.
In August 2020, Sonko and Badi teamed up to discuss the health crisis with doctors. They called on all health workers planning to strike to continue working as deliberations on their grievances were being handled.
However, the differences between Badi and Sonko reemerged which hindered negotiations with the doctors.
As of November 2020, at least 515 Nairobi health care workers had contracted the virus, with 12 deaths recorded.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
