Governors have identified the rampant absenteeism of health workers as one of the challenges they face in providing health services.
Some studies have found approximately 50 per cent of healthcare providers were absent from their facility at the time an enumerator made an unannounced visit.
Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, also the Council of Governors health committee chairman, said this is most prevalent among clinical workers such as doctors, nurses and clinical officers.
"I hope this is one of the issues we can candidly discuss, including rampant strikes," he said when he opened the Kenya Health workers’ Annual Convention 2022 in Nairobi.
The 2019 Kenya Health Service Delivery Indicator Report shows over 50 per cent of doctors, nurses and clinical officers are absent from their work stations on any given day in a Kenyan hospital.
The report, which was conducted in 3,095 facilities across the country, reveals that doctors and nurses recorded the highest rates of absence at 60.7 per cent and 49.5 per cent respectively. Clinical Officers who were absent from their workstations totalled 49.5 per cent.
"We need to increase mental health services for health workers because sometimes your work is psychologically demanding," he said.
This was echoed by Dr Dennis Miskellah, the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists’ and Dentists Union deputy secretary general.
He claimed healthcare workers got a raw deal during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said despite being on the frontline in the fight against the Covid-19 disease, most continued to go through untold suffering from burnout due to understaffing. Others contracted the disease due to the nature of their work.
“I know of a nurse who contracted Covid-19 even though she made it through she has to move around with an oxygen cylinder. Her life changed forever,” Miskellah said.
“Healthcare workers had to sell their properties to cater to their bills. They are still paying loans they borrowed to cater to their parents, brothers and sisters when they got Covid-19,” he added.
However, the government mobilised Sh3 billion in 2020 which was shared. Doctors also received accommodation in top hotels while working during the pandemic.
Miskellah was among hundreds of healthcare workers who attended the Kenya Health workers’ Annual Convention 2022 in Nairobi.
The convention is the first of its kind in Kenya bringing together all players in health sector including the Health ministry, the Council of Governors, health unions and other partners such as NHIF and Amref.
