Taita Taveta County Assembly has pleaded with the health workers to suspend their strike, which for the fifth day now, has paralyzed healthcare services across the County.
Hospitals and health centers remain understaffed, with patients bearing the brunt of the situation as they struggle to access essential medical services.
The prolonged strike has created a healthcare crisis, especially for residents who rely heavily on public health facilities.
Many patients have been forced to seek medical attention in private hospitals, which is unaffordable for most of the underprivileged families.
The healthcare workers’ strike was driven by delayed salaries and a lack of adequate medical supplies, issues they claim have gone unresolved for months.
The county government has acknowledged the challenges but is yet to offer a concrete solution, intensifying the standoff between the health workers and authorities.
In an effort to resolve the crisis, the County Assembly of Taita Taveta held a media briefing to address the ongoing health workers’ strike, expressing their deep concern over the impact on public health services.
“The County Assembly of Taita Taveta continues to express regret over the health workers’ strike,” the statement read.
In their statement, the assembly expressed sadness over the suffering of residents who have been left without essential medical care.
“The strike has halted essential healthcare services, and it’s troubling that many residents who rely on public hospitals cannot access these critical services,” the statement read partly.
The assembly also highlighted their attempts to initiate dialogue by calling a meeting with the health workers’ union representatives, who unfortunately did not turn up.
“The assembly invited representatives of the health workers’ unions to discuss their grievances and seek a solution. It is disappointing that the unions declined the invitation and boycotted the meeting,” the statement read.
The assembly emphasized the importance of open communication and urged the unions to engage in talks to find a swift resolution.
They stressed the urgency of preventing further disruption to healthcare services for the county’s residents.
The Taita Taveta County Assembly has requested health workers to suspend their strike and resume services while negotiations continue.
“We urge the health workers to resume their duties as we continue to work towards resolving their issues through ongoing discussions,” the statement concluded.
The assembly has promised to ensure that the health workers’ concerns are addressed. Meanwhile, the health sector in Taita Taveta remains uncertain, with the well-being of patients hanging in the balance.
