Nurses in Trans Nzoia County have called on the County Public Service Board to urgently replace 120 nurses who have exited.
The health practitioners further say the county should hire an additional 300 nurses to address the existing shortage shortage.
Currently, Trans Nzoia County has about 300 practicing nurses attending a population of over 1 million people. This falls short of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended nurse-to-patient ratio.
Speaking in Kitale, the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Trans Nzoia branch Executive Secretary, Edward Cheruyiot said his members are overwhelmed by workload.
“Although we strive to offer the best healthcare services, we cannot attain that because our numbers are way below what WHO recommends. Here, one nurse attends at least 2,500 patients which is 20 times what WHO recommends,” Cheruyiot said.
More health facilities but less workers
The nurses’ union boss attributed the shortage to expanded services and construction of more health facilities including the mega Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital, without reciprocal employment of nurses and other medics.
He said the shortage is particularly acute in maternity wards and new born units.
“Like here at Kitale County Referral Hospital, we have at least 30 deliveries per day and yet there are only two nurses to handle these 30 mothers and their new born babies. In case of complications, the worst can happen,” Cheruiyot stated.
The nurses union also urged Governor George Natembeya’s administration to address their insurance cover.
“We have heard that there is a new insurance cover provider. However, from reports, that provider has a negative reputation and we need a provider who gives us the best of health insurance where we can access all health services including the specialized care from tier one hospitals,” the Trans Nzoia KNUN executive secretary said.
Promotion of Trans Nzoia nurses
In addition, the nurses union called on the County’s Public Service Board to fasten the promotion of all the nurses whose promotion is due.
“We have more than 230 nurses who are due for promotion to different cadres. They have stagnated for long and it is proper that the board promotes them as soon as possible,” he said.
