By Ahmed Salat Aaran Tv Ke
Operations at Wajir County Referral Hospital were disrupted on Friday after a section of health workers downed their tools, protesting stalled promotions and delayed career progression.
The affected staff—comprising nurses, pharmacists, clinical officers and laboratory technicians—resorted to a go-slow, significantly slowing service delivery at the county’s main referral facility.
The striking workers cited long-standing grievances, saying many had upgraded their qualifications, undertaken specialized training, and served for over a decade without corresponding promotions or adjustments to their job groups.
“We have invested in our professional growth, but our careers have remained stagnant for years,” said one practitioner familiar with the situation.
An official at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the disruption but maintained that the impact on services had been contained.
“There has been minimal interruption. We have taken internal measures to stabilize operations, including deploying additional managerial support and engaging temporary health personnel,” the official said. “There is no cause for alarm—no deaths or critical incidents linked to the strike have been reported.”
The official added that discussions are already underway to address the workers’ concerns, with the county government reportedly fast-tracking solutions.
“Talks are ongoing, and the governor has initiated measures to resolve the matter. We are optimistic that by tomorrow, most staff—especially nurses, who form the backbone of hospital services—will resume duty as their concerns are addressed.”
The hospital has approximately 300 staff members, including 120 nurses, making them a critical component of healthcare delivery.
Management emphasized that efforts are being made to ensure services remain accessible, noting that access to healthcare is a constitutional right.
The industrial action comes a month after the health workers initially issued a strike notice. At the time, they agreed to suspend their plans following assurances from the county government that their grievances would be addressed. However, the lack of tangible progress appears to have triggered the current action.
An official statement from the county health department is expected to provide further clarity on the situation and outline the next steps toward a resolution.
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