Doctors in Kenya on Thursday called off their nationwide strike after a government promise to address their grievances amid the challenges of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The strike, which was in its fourth day, had been called by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) after a notice for negotiations expired. The strike, initially set to begin on December 7, had been suspended for 14 days to allow for dialogue.
The KMPDU’s acting Secretary-General Chibanzi Mwachonda said the agreement to suspend the strike was reached after the intervention of President Uhuru Kenyatta, local media outlet the Nation reported.
According to Mwachonda, the union had agreed on a return to work formula and doctors had been assured all their grievances will be addressed.
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“We have been engaging continuously with the government,” Mwachonda was quoted by the Nation as saying during the signing of the agreement with the government.
Some of the grievances included demands for adequate medical insurance and better employment terms for doctors, formation of a constitutional Health Services Commission and provision of personal protective equipment among others.
Strikes by health workers in the East African country are not uncommon with demands for better pay, improved staffing and shortages of equipment periodically being agitated for.
In August, doctors in most public hospitals in the capital Nairobi went on strike to protest against delayed salaries and a lack of protective equipment when handling patients who may have COVID-19.
The chairperson of the National Assembly Health Committee, Sabina Chege, said the country could not risk having doctors on a go-slow during a period when there are several challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
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