The county government has been challenged to come up with measures to end the shortage of nurses in health centers and set measures of promoting them.
According to the Secretary general of the union of nurses in Kenya Seth Panyako, the number of nurses in health centers is wanting hence he challenged the governors to set measures which will improve the staffing of nurses.
Panyako said that the normal ratio needed is 1 to 5 unlike where we have a ratio of one nurse to fifteen patients.
“We are experiencing a shortage of nurses that is why we are appealing to the county governments to adjust its measures of ending this problem once and for all,” said Panyako.
He also challenged the leadership of counties to make sure that nurses are being promoted.
“It is quite unfortunate to find that some counties have not promoted nurses until they threaten to go for a strike," he said.
"the administration of the counties should have the measures of promoting them as one way of motivation,” said Panyako.
He gave an example of Nairobi county government under the leadership of Governor Evans Kidero, who has never promoted nurses.
He challenged the Kisii Governor James Ongwae who is chairman of labor and welfare in the Councils of Governors to tell them to adjust in helping nurses.