PM implores health workers to resume duty

Written By:Martin Mwanje/Rose Welimo,    Posted: Tue, Mar 13, 2012

The PM has promised to intervene in the crisis that has paralyzed operations in Public Health facilities Prime Minister Raila Odinga has made a passionate appeal to striking health workers to resume duty immediately promising to intervene in the crisis that has paralyzed operations in Public Health facilities for the last thirteen days. His sentiments come at a time when a seven member task force has express dissatisfaction with the two line ministries of Public Health and Medical Services over the manner they have handled the crisis citing lack of commitment. And with this assurance, it remains to be seen whether the health workers hell bent on advancing their course will heed the call by the Premier and resume duty. On Monday, talks between the seven member taskforce formed to look into  health workers' grievances and the government flopped after government representatives failed to turn up for the crucial meeting aimed at ending the ongoing health workers strike. The National Chairman of the Association of Kenya Luke Kodambo decried reports that nurses who've heeded the call to resume duty are now being victimized for participating in what the government maintains is an illegal strike. The workers went on strike on 1st of this month paralyzing health services in all public health facilities and have vowed to uphold their position until disparities in the payment of allowances were fully addressed by the government.