Kilifi Governor Mung’aro threatens to sack striking doctors if they don’t resume to work
He says had signed Return t Work formula in December last year
Mater Hospital CEO Sister Mary Ngui lauded Governor for putting health first in Kilifi
he Kilifi County government will sack doctors participating in the nationwide doctors’ industrial action saying that it already had a Return to Work formula deal in December last year with its doctors.
Governor Gideon Mung’aro stressed that despite the strike, only five percent of the doctors were on strike while others were offering services in the major county hospitals.
The Governor was speaking at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Kilifi branch during the launch of a two day medical camp sponsored by the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Jambojet where he stressed that his government and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Coast branch had ironed out most issues in the 2017-2023 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
“We have 95 percent of our doctors on duty and only five percent are out of their work station and I will not hesitate to sack them because they are sabotaging the health sector in the County yet I met their part of the bargain. I am sending a warning to them that if they fail to report to work from tomorrow then I will proceed with the disciplinary action,” he said.
Among the issues that were addressed included the promotions of 101 doctors, car loans and mortgages and also improved working conditions. The 101 doctors out of 122 doctors in the county were promoted to various job groups and they were allowed to benefit from mortgages and loans.
The chairman of KMPDU Coast branch Dr Niko Kimanga Gichana had in December last year led officials in signing the deal at Governor Mung’aro’s official residence in Kilifi town in December last year that averted a looming strike.
“I want to thank the Governor’s team and KMPDU for making sure that the crisis that could have been tragic because when doctors go on strike, there are lives lost and we have talked and agreed on various issues,” he said then.
Mung’aro who was accompanied by Mater Misericordae Hospital Chief Executive Officer Sister Dr Mary Ngui, representative from Jambo Jet led by Cynthia Otoro and KAA led by Anthony Njagi said that the medical camp offered an opportunity for children suffering from cardiovascular issues to get free treatment.
“We also want to thank Mater hospital, KAA and Jambo Jet for setting up this medical camp and children with heart problems will get their conditions solved for free because they could have spent at least Sh. 1.5 million to get treated,” he said.
Sister Ngui said that there was a possibility that the annual Mater Heart Run would be launched in Kilifi to raise more funds to implement cardiac therapy and treatment to children.
“We are happy to be in Kilifi because it deserves the best and I am impressed the governor has put health first and we shall continue to partner with them so that we can help children born with cardiac conditions have a normal health,” she said.