Health services have resumed in all the 104 public health facilities in Tharaka Nithi County after the Labour Court on Tuesday ordered striking health workers to end boycott until a case filed by Governor Muthomi Njuki led government is heard and determined.
The workers started returning to work on Wednesday as ordered by the court and by Thursday morning operations had completely resumed.
The countrywide health workers strike commenced on Monday this week to demand: increase of risk allowance from the current Sh3000 to Sh30,000, comprehensive medical cover, compensation for those who succumb to Covid-19, and formation of a health service commission among others.
Residents have lauded Governor Njuki for assuring that they continue enjoying health services.
Addressing the press in Chuka town on Thursday, Tharaka Nithi County Health Executive Dr Gichuyia Nthuraku said all the health workers had resumed duty by Wednesday evening.
He assured the residents that Governor Njuki is determined to ensure that they continue enjoying services uninterrupted.
“Our people can continue seeking services at any of our 104 health facilities in the county,” said Dr Nthuraku.
The devolved unit has four level-four hospitals, 15 health centres and 85 dispensaries distributed across the three constituencies; Tharaka, Maarand Chuka/Igambang’ombe and are all fully operational.
Health workers in other counties are still on strike and have vowed to stay put until all their demands are met by both the county and national governments.
Meanwhile, Governor Njuki has stated that no single health worker from Tharaka Nithi County should boycott duty because all their needs have been met.
He said he decided to move to court to seek suspension of the strike because he has done enough for his health workers and they can’t join the rest in the boycott for the mere reason of solidarity.
He said he had no powers to compel drafters of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) to include health service commission in the report and that only national government could increase the risk allowance from Sh3000 to Sh30000 as they are demanding.
The county boss noted that he had paid fully salary arrears amounting to Sh233 million that had accumulated since 2016.
He added that he had also promoted those who deserved and employed on permanent and pensionable terms health workers who had been hired on contract by during the tenure of his predecessor Samuel Ragwa.
Njuki warned that any health worker who fails to resume duty will lose pay and incase one stays away for a whole month will be sacked.
“Our county has very many health workers who are ready to over the work,” said Governor Njuki.
