• Looming crisis as Baringo Doctors issue two weeks strike notice if the county government fails to honor their call for an urgent deliberation meeting.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
Doctors in Baringo have given the county government a two ultimatum to call for deliberation meeting, failure to which they go on strike.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union, Baringo branch, Tuesday said there was need for an urgent meeting to discuss promotions.
“We have resolved to withdraw our services after 14 days starting Monday 8, April at midnight if we will not have received our promotion letters,” the doctors said after a meeting in Kabarnet.
In a letter, seen by the Star and dated March 22, North Rift branch secretary Ismail Ayabei said the doctors want a team formed to push for the implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The letter was copied to KMPDU secretary general Ouma Oluga, Baringo county assembly clerk Joseph Koech and county labour and the KMPDU county liaison officer.
The doctors also want discussions on redesignations, training, working environment and performance management.
Ayabei said several attempts to have quarterly meetings as earlier agreed on in the harmonised implementation of matrix for the doctors since 2017 have failed.
“We also handed a reminder letter dated February 12, which also failed,” Ayabei said.
He asked the county to act swiftly and avert the looming strike.
Baringo Health executive Mary Panga said she was aware of the doctor's notice.
“We shall have a meeting to discuss the issue. Maybe we'll reach a conclusion and respond later," Panga told the Star.
On Monday, county health officials were holed up in a managerial board meeting at a Kabarnet hotel to discuss challenges in the sector.
Patients have shied away from Baringo County Referral Hospital in Kabarnet town, citing poor services because of staff shortage.
During an impromptu visit to the hospital on January 15, Panga dismissed the claims, terming them negative publicity.
She said the reports could kill the morale of "hardworking staff."
Panga was accompanied by Health chief officer Gideon Toromo and preventive and promotive healthcare chief officer Winnie Bore during the visit.
“Shortage of doctors, lack of an operational ICU, oxygen plant and a blood bank are the major reasons why we transfer our patients,” Toromo said.
"The county government is currently not in a position to employ more staff due to the high wage bill."
The officials said staff shortage had caused the closure of some nine dispensaries across the six subcounties.
“If there were sufficient funds, we would wish to improve our Level 4 subcounty hospitals in Marigat, Mogotio, Chemilong’ot and Kabartonjo to reduce the referral cases,” Toromo said.
Medical Superintendent Samson Ajanja said he hoped the staff shortage would be soon addressed.
Currently, the hospital has eight consultants, two Cuban doctors, seven medical doctors, 23 clinical officers, 90 nurses and five pharmacists.