At least 6 patients die as nurses strike continues in Kenya

Source: Xinhua| 2017-06-06 22:33:22|Editor: yan
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MOMBASA, Kenya, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Al least six patients died in the coastal city of Mombasa as nurse's countrywide strike entered its second day on Tuesday.

Mombasa Health Chief Officer Khadija Shikely said three patients died at the emergency wing at the Coast General Hospital while the other three died in the wards.

Shikely said the hospital has so far discharged patients to ease the congestion at the hospital.

"Three of those who died were critically ill patients admitted at the wards and required close supervision which was not available due to few nurses at the hospital," said Shikely.

The strike has paralyzed services at the maternity wing, pediatric ward among other crucial services at the hospital. The patients said they were issued with discharge note and ordered to leave the hospital. Other patients were turned way.

Shikely said they will hire low service nurses to assist in controlling the situation and avoid loss of lives. On Monday, nurses at the hospital joined their colleagues in the countrywide strike.

Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary for Mombasa county Peter Maroko said the situation is expected to get worse and will affect all public hospitals in the county if the government will not intervene.

The union officials say they will not attend to patients and the strike has nothing to do with county government because it is a national issue.

"We advise that patients seek alternative hospitals because we would not wish them to be admitted and they are not being attended to," Maroko.

"The government has failed to honour a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the KNUN and we will not resume work until the government implements the CBA," said Maroko

On Monday, Council Governors Chairperson Josephat Nanok said a draft CBA that proposes 403 million U.S. dollars in the return-to-work formula had already been concluded.

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