NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec, 6 – Doctors Sunday suspended the planned nationwide strike set to commence Monday December 7, after both the Senate and National Assembly health committees struck a consensus with the doctors union.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacist and Dentist Union’s (KMPDU) National Advisory Council Sunday evening revealed that it held deliberations with the two houses of parliament and resolved to cease the industrial action for further deliberations.
The Union’s acting Secretary General Chibanzi Mwachonda said the strike notice will be suspended for 14 days to allow for dialogue and if the issues plaguing doctors will remain unresolved upon the lapse of 14 days, the Strike will commence on 21st December 2020.
He further advised all members not to endanger their lives where there are no personal protective equipment, PPEs.
The meeting is scheduled for December 9 where pending issues will be deliberated upon.
The union had issued a strike notice on November 16 over among others lack of PPEs in public hospitals for health workers.
At least 15 doctors and 20 other health care workers have died of COVID-19 so far while 1,526 people have been killed by the disease. The country’s total case stands at 88,380 out of 931,799 tested so far.
“The union acknowledges the efforts of the two houses of parliament {National Assembly and Senate} to resolve the grievances raised in the strike notice dated 16th November 2020,” said Mwachonda.
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