Port Victoria sub-county hospital nurses in Busia County have ceased work to demonstrate in solidarity with their colleague who was attacked.
On Friday, January 5, when the nurses took to the streets to protest following the outrageous harassment of one of their counterparts, following a viral video on Tuesday.
In the video, two patients were seen demanding services from the hospital worker for their relatives.
The nurses left normal operations paralyzing services and forcing families to transfer their patients to other hospitals to continue receiving treatments.
Nurses threaten to halt services in Busia
Seth Panyako, Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General, said the nurses will not continue with their duties until their security is guaranteed.
“There is no work going on here until we are assured of the security of healthcare workers. And if that does not happen in the shortest time possible, we will withdraw all healthcare workers in Busia County government within 48 hours,” said Panyako as quoted by Citizen Digital.
The union leader said the healthcare worker harassed in the video has recorded a statement with police.
At the same time, the nurses’ body called for immediate action against the two perpetrators who attacked their colleague.
The two suspects are identified as Vanessa Ogema, a technical student, and another unidentified male person.
An oxygen concentrator was damaged together with hospital property in the process, according to reports given to newsrooms by the Busia County government.
Vanessa Ogema together with her counterpart have not been arrested since the video went viral closely four days ago but police have already launched a series to get the suspects who are believed to have fled to Nairobi.
Susan Nakhumicha, Health Cabinet Secretary, On Thursday, 4 January 2024, seriously condemned the immoral act, saying the suspects will have to face the full force of the law.
“Acts of violence against our healthcare workers are not only reprehensible but also intolerable. Healthcare workers deserve our utmost respect as they are the backbone of our healthcare system. They work tirelessly, sometimes under challenging conditions to ensure the well-being of all citizens across different hospital levels,” said Nakhumicha.
Nakhumicha’s sentiments were echoed by the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Board of Directors Chairperson, Prof Olive Mugemba who also condemned the immoral acts..