Health workers working under the county government of Kisii have vowed to continue withdrawing their services at Nduru Hospital until they are assured of their safety.
Through their respective unions, nursers, clinicians and laboratory technicians, argued that the health facility located in South Mugirango subcounty remains a risky working environment.
In a joint statement on May 7, the four unions including the Kenya National Union of Nurses, the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, the Kenya Union of Medical Laboratory Officers and the Kenya Health Professionals society said they will not report to the work station.
The unions said a raft of their demands are yet to be met among them arrest and prosecution of goons that attacked and injured a number of health workers at the hospital on April 12.
''It is to our surprise that none of these demands have been addressed even as the poor residents continue to suffer for more than three weeks since the attack occurred,'' they said in the joint statement.
The unions regretted that instead of their issues being addressed, there has been an organised uprising of the local community backed by a some politicians demanding the reopening of the facility before their safety is guaranteed.
''The ball stops at the security agencies within Kisii county who have decided to protect criminals harassing health workers in broad daylight,'' they said.
They urged the county commissioner to take charge and arrest the goons who they said are well known in the community yet no legal action had been taken on them.
''This begs the question whether there is conflict of interest from the investigating agencies,'' the unions said.
The statements was signed by branch officials Victor Bwanchete[KUCO], Bernard Mariari[KNUML], Dennis Bosire[KHPS] and Moses Riang'a of the Kenya Union of Nurses.
According to the unions, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 gives them the parameters within which they swing into action when their lives are in danger.
''We are convinced that our members are still exposed and no amount of intimidation can force them into resumption of duties,'' they said.
''We urge our members to continue with the withdrawal of services at the facility until our demands are addressed to our satisfaction and that of our members.''
They said they may be forced to withdraw services in all the facilities in South Mugirago subcounty in solidarity with the affected health workers at Nduru hospital.
Already there are reports of pain and suffering among resident who for the last three weeks gave been forced to walk long distances to seek heath services following the closure of Nduru Level 4 hospital.
This even as some professionals raised issues over safety concerns of some political leaders establishing temporary private health facilities in the area as a stop gap measure.
''We are not sure if the necessary protocols required to clear such initiatives were followed and if the people being engaged have been certified as medical professionals,'' one of the professionals from the region said.
''We cant assume that all people in white aprons and stethoscopes are doctors, nurses or clinicians, there is need to put safety of our people first.''
