Deputy President William Ruto has called upon the Ministry of Health and County Governments to address the grievances of health care workers in order to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic effectively.
“We have asked the Ministry of health to with immediate effect work with the leadership of doctors, nurses and all health care workers so that we can address the issues they raised as the first step to ensure we deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.” He said.
The DP was speaking in Kericho County during the Requiem Mass of the late Retired General John Koech. Ruto said the first step in managing COVID-19 is ensuring all the needs of health care workers such as quality PPEs and pay issues are well covered.
The DP also took a swipe on the Building Bridges Initiative and the upcoming referendum saying the priority should be on the COVID-19 pandemic which has created a financial crisis in the country.
‘It is reckless for anybody to say that we wait for political processes so that we can find the money to address the pandemic that we are in. That is putting the cart before the horse,” he said
The sentiments of the DP come at a time when nurses and clinicians are entering the second day of strike across the country protesting against poor working conditions.
The nurses have decried the lack of good quality PPEs exposing them to COVID-19 while treating patients in various hospitals.
The DP was accompanied by Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Energy CS Charles Keter among other leaders.
