Nurses in Busia have complained about heavy workload as they discharge health services to the local residents.

Speaking to the press during the celebrations to mark the International Nursing week at Busia County Referral Hospital Thursday, Busia County Deputy Nursing Officer, Lucy Amayi said that the county had only 589 nurses working in over 200 facilities.

‘We are very few and very inadequate,’ she said, adding that they cannot adequately offer services as required.

Amayi explained that the ratio of nurses to patients at the Busia County Referral Hospital currently stands at 1:100 instead of the WHO recommended 1:4.

Juliet Kilima, the Deputy Head Nurse in charge of immunization said that nurses have played a very important role ensuring that locals access immunizations services.

‘In terms of immunizations, last year, our immunization services stood at 4.5 per cent but right now we are at 41.1 per cent,’ she explains that the achievement has been made through concerted efforts from the nurses.

Kilima urged the county government to recruit more nurses in order to increase the workforce.

‘The leadership should also look into issues of promotions and resignation because there are a number of nurses who have stagnated in various job groups yet they have undergone further education and specialization,’ Kilima said.

James Emusugut, the representative of nurses in Busia County urged the County Government to ensure that the nurses are paid their three months’ salary arrears so that they can work effectively.

Emusugut cited stock out of commodities at various health facilities across the County as a major challenge adding that patients are forced to buy their own.

‘We want to ask the County government of Busia to ensure that this issue of stock outs is addressed,’ he said.

He at the same time complained about staffing at the facilities adding that staffing at various levels of health facilities do not meet the WHO standards.

Source: Kenya News Agency