The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has issued a resounding call for an immediate resolution to the ongoing doctors’ strike.
This appeal is a response to the prolonged strike that has significantly disrupted healthcare services, resulting in substantial challenges in patient care nationwide.
The bishops’ plea emphasized the urgent need for both the government and the striking medical practitioners to swiftly resolve their differences to alleviate the suffering of patients who are severely affected by the strike.
KCCB chairman Archbishop Martin Kivuva said, “We believe a solution will be found; we urge the government not to be firm in their directive regarding this issue, saying ‘this is the way things will go’ as this is not the only way to find common ground.”
“So as the church our wish is the same as the wishes of citizens, who want the swift return to normalcy of hospitals, having doctors treating patients, because people who rely on public hospitals are really struggling.”
Kivuva made these remarks while speaking on Sunday, March 24 at the Our Lady of Africa Tudor Pastoral Centre, where he had joined thousands of Catholic Church congregants to mark the Palm Sunday service in Mombasa.
Also Read: Catholic Bishops Call for Dialogue Between Ruto and Raila
Nakuru Bishop echoes KCCB Sentiments
Similarly, Nakuru diocese Bishop Cleophas Oseso has added his voice to the call for an end to the doctors’ strike, aligning with the sentiments expressed by the KCCB chairman.
He highlighted the urgency of resolving the doctors’ issues, stressing the critical need for a truce between the government and the striking medics to effectively address the healthcare crisis.
The involvement of religious leaders in advocating for a resolution to the strike underscores the severity of the situation and the collective concern over the prolonged healthcare crisis and its adverse effects on the population.
These concerted efforts aim to hasten a peaceful resolution to the strike and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential medical services to citizens in need.
The Doctors Strike
The ongoing doctors’ strike is set to extend into the upcoming week as healthcare workers have yet to reach an agreement with the government regarding a return-to-work strategy.
Dr. Davji Atellah, the Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), on Sunday, March 24 said the strike will persist due to government’s lack of commitment to addressing their demands.
The doctors criticized Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha for allegedly addressing the strike issue at political rallies instead of actively working towards a resolution.
Davji further highlighted the delayed response from the government following the strike notice issued on March 6, emphasizing the need for meaningful engagement to resolve the issues at hand.
Doctors Demands
Therefore, Atellah reiterated that the doctors’ demands remain unchanged.
These demands include issues such as appropriate job placements for medical interns, the implementation of the basic salary component in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), comprehensive medical coverage, support for postgraduate training, remuneration for postgraduate doctors, and the employment of over 50,000 doctors who are yet to be hired.
The KMPDU secretary general also announced plans for protests in Nakuru, Kakamega, Embu, Nairobi, and Eldoret in the upcoming week to advocate for these changes.
Also Read: Nakhumicha Makes Appeal to Doctors After Strike Notice
He emphasized the doctors’ unwavering commitment to their cause and their readiness to continue the strike until their demands are met.
In addition, Davji acknowledged the challenging circumstances in public hospitals where patients are being turned away but stressed that the strike remains the doctors’ primary means of negotiating with the government.
He underscored the doctors’ willingness to engage in discussions once the government presents a viable solution to the ongoing issues.
