Clinical officers in Kisii have issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, demanding immediate action to improve their working conditions and pay.
This ultimatum comes amid mounting frustrations over meagre salaries, excessive working hours, and insufficient support from the government.
Clinical officers have voiced their discontent, painting a grim picture of their daily reality.
One officer shared the harrowing details of their routine, complaining of stretched working hours and lack of off days.
"We have to work daily without any offs. We work from Monday to Monday from 8 am to 8 pm, sometimes even further. We do night shifts and the pay is very meagre,” the intern narrated.
She disclosed that the administration allegedly shortchanged them in their pay agreement.
“We signed for Ksh15,000 but we were given Ksh9,000. It is really painful for us all. Such things should not continue,” she disclosed.
The officer's sentiments highlight the deep-seated issues within the healthcare sector, where professionals are overworked and underpaid, struggling to make ends meet.
"Actually, you cannot offer services and yet there is nothing in your pocket, you'll be suffering. Imagine I have blood stains in my coat but I don't have money to even buy soap and pay for the basic commodities," the officer lamented.
George Gibore, Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO), emphasized the critical need for government intervention.
"We need to see a government that is serious in allocating money that is required to cater for the training of healthcare workers. It's the healthcare workers who are the voice of the health sector," Gibore stated.
Gibore's call to action underscores the essential role healthcare workers play in the country's health system and the urgency for adequate training and financial support to ensure they can perform their duties effectively.
As the two-week ultimatum ticks down, the nation watches closely to see how the government will respond.
The clinical officers are demanding better pay, reasonable working hours, and proper resources to carry out their critical roles.
The ultimatum came days after the Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni signed a return to work formula for medical interns.
