NAIROBI, KENYA: Pregnant mothers in Nairobi are feeling the heat following the withdrawal of the health workers at theย Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
Nurses and other healthcare givers have been on a go-slow demanding an increase in their salaries following aย Collective Bargain Agreementย (CBA) between them and the defunct Local Government Authority.
A spot check by the Standard on Wednesday revealed that there were no activities going on at the facility except for the few casual workers cleaning the wards.
The wards also remained deserted and services grounded to a standstill and the Hospital having been closed indefinitely after employees opted to join their colleagues in the ongoing strike by Nairobi County Government workers.
According to Nairobi County Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Ayisi, patients visiting the facility are being transferred to either Kenyatta National Hospital orMama Lucy Kibaki Hospitalย in Kayole.
And as the city continued to feel the bite of the striking workers on the sixth day, Governor Evans Kidero sought the intervention of the Labour Ministry to help broker a truce.
Already four of the16 pre-term babies referred to KNH from Pumwani Maternity died on Tuesday from low birth weight and other congenital complications.
รย The Kenyaรขยยs biggest and oldest maternity hospital remained shut for the seventh day following a pay dispute with workers.ร
The standoff at Pumwani, which delivers 80 babies daily, now means that poor women who cannot afford to pay other medical services other than maternal fees cannot afford to do without the facility.ร
When we walked along the corridors and Wards of the 354-bedย Pumwani Maternity Hospital, the wards were deserted as the management held a meeting with Ayisi over the stalemate.ร
The workers are seeking a 16 per cent salary rise, and have accused the county government of reneging on a February Collective Bargaining Agreement.ร
Ayisi said that at least 25 doctors who had been seconded to the hospital by the Ministry of Health were waiting to be deployed following the decision by the hospital administration to close the busy medical facility indefinitely.
Nurses who camped at the gate said they would not resume work unless they are paid their dues in full. They said they would ensure closure of the School of Midwifery by close of business Wednesday.
Following the developments, the Senate Committee on Devolved Government has summoned Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero over the escalating crisis facing the Nairobi County Government., that has seen services in many institutions formerly under the defunct City Council paralysed
The committee chaired by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen wants Kidero to appear before it and shed light on a crisis that has seen workers in these institutions go on strike, affecting delivery of basic services.ร
Among the worst hit isย Pumwani Maternity Hospitalรขยยthe countryรขยยs largest public maternity provider รขยย whose workers continued with their strike over salary impasse, resulting to deaths of two infants in the incubator who were being moved to Kenyatta National Hospital.ร
Garbage collection within the city center has also been paralysed, leaving streets littered with dirt and foul smell.ร
Also summoned to appear before the Murkomenรขยยs-led committee on Monday are Devolution Cabinet Secretary Ann Waiguru, the Transitional Authority and the officials from the County Government Workers Union, all who are at the center of the major crisis, now entering its second week.ร
รขยยWe want to find a solution to this crisis, and importantly, the question we are asking is whose workers are these who are on the streets,รขยย said Murkomen at the committeeรขยยs Press conference on Wednesday.-standardmedia
