By Wasike Elvis
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), one of Kenya's largest referral medical facilities, has officially called off the nurses' strike that started on March 19. This follows the signing of a return-to-work agreement between MTRH’s CEO, Dr. Philip Kirwa, and the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN). The agreement marks the end of a nearly three-week-long disruption to hospital services, which had raised concerns about the delivery of healthcare in the region.
The strike, led by KNUN, was prompted by multiple grievances from the nurses. The union had raised several issues, including delayed remittance of statutory deductions, the rotational changes within the nursing department, stagnation in leadership positions, and allegations of discrimination against staff working in the private wing of the hospital. These concerns had been festering for some time, with union officials noting that the unresolved issues were causing frustration among the nursing staff.
Dan Osoro, the KNUN Branch Secretary for the North Rift region, spoke on behalf of the union, acknowledging that the grievances raised by the nurses were serious and needed urgent redress. Osoro expressed that while the strike had brought the hospital's operations to a halt, it was a necessary measure to draw attention to the issues that had long been neglected. However, with the signing of the agreement, the union decided to end the strike and return to work, allowing services to gradually resume as normal.
On the other hand, Dr. Philip Kirwa, the CEO of MTRH, expressed his understanding of the challenges faced by the nurses. He acknowledged that the hospital had been grappling with severe financial constraints, exacerbated by budget cuts amounting to more than Sh 2 billion. These cuts, he explained, had significantly impacted various aspects of the hospital’s operations, including staff remuneration and the provision of essential resources for both nurses and patients.
However, Dr. Kirwa was optimistic about the future, revealing that the recent allocation of Sh 1 billion in the supplementary budget would go a long way in addressing over 70% of the issues that led to the strike. The allocation, he noted, would provide much-needed relief for the hospital, enabling it to improve working conditions, resolve the financial backlog, and address staffing shortages. Despite these positive developments, Dr. Kirwa acknowledged that the hospital still faced significant challenges, particularly with its staffing levels.
Dr. Kirwa also addressed a concerning trend at MTRH, disclosing that the hospital experiences an annual loss of at least 40 nurses who resign to seek better employment opportunities elsewhere. He attributed this high turnover to a combination of factors, including low pay, inadequate career progression, and the lure of better benefits offered by private hospitals and opportunities abroad. This, in turn, has strained the hospital’s capacity to deliver quality care, especially as the number of patients seeking medical attention continues to increase.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Kirwa emphasized the hospital’s commitment to improving the welfare of its staff. He assured the nurses that the management was dedicated to enhancing the terms and conditions of service, making MTRH a more attractive workplace. He also mentioned that the hospital was in discussions to secure more funding to address the gap between the current workforce and the number of nurses required to effectively manage the growing patient load.
Currently, MTRH employs approximately 1,300 nurses, but Dr. Kirwa admitted that this number was insufficient to meet the hospital's needs. While he did not provide an exact figure for the number of nurses required, he acknowledged that staffing levels had to be increased significantly to provide optimal care for patients. He highlighted that the hospital was working with the relevant authorities to address this shortfall and recruit more nurses in the near future.
The return-to-work agreement between KNUN and MTRH is seen as a positive step towards restoring industrial harmony and improving the overall working environment at the hospital. It is also expected to provide much-needed relief for patients who had been affected by the strike, which had led to delays in medical procedures, consultations, and other essential services. With the agreement now in place, both the nurses and hospital management are hopeful that the concerns raised during the strike will be addressed in a timely manner, ultimately benefiting both staff and patients.
In conclusion, while the strike has been a challenging period for both the nurses and the hospital, the signing of the return-to-work agreement marks a hopeful new chapter for MTRH. As the hospital continues to grapple with budgetary constraints and staffing shortages, the focus will now shift to ensuring that the facility remains a high-performing institution, capable of meeting the healthcare needs of the region. The commitment to improving the welfare of staff and addressing the challenges faced by the hospital will, hopefully, lead to better healthcare outcomes for the patients and a more sustainable work environment for the nurses.
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