The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has called on the government to resolve pending issues with health workers to avoid a strike during this time, saying the strike will paralyze efforts to combat coronavirus in the country.
In a letter sent to media houses by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna on Thursday, the party urged the government to put in place further measures to cushion the most vulnerable in society during this Coronavirus pandemic period.
The party’s leadership as well as the parliamentary leadership in both the Senate and National Assembly attended the meeting, which was chaired by Raila Odinga. The informal meeting was convened to “review and upraise the latest developments in light of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“The Party and its members will continue to support and supplement the Government’s efforts towards containment of the disease and speedy return to normalcy. Further measures must be put in place to cushion the most vulnerable in society,” read part of the statement from the ODM party.
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As questions continue to rise on the state of Covid 19 in Tanzania, the party called on the government to pay much attention on the border between Kenya and Tanzania to prevent importation of the virus.
The party said it will continue supporting the national government’s efforts in containing the virus and speedy return to normalcy.
The health workers have threatened to down their tools come Monday, May 18 citing lack of funding and Personal Protective Equipment.
The medics claim the government has failed to conduct mass testing of health workers attending to Coronavirus patients exposing them to risk of transmitting the virus to their families and community.
The Kenya National Union of Clinical Officers, Kenya Health Professional Society and the Kenya Laboratories Technologies have vowed to down their tools Monday should the government fail to address their concerns.
They are accusing the national and county governments of sidelining them during this period of the Coronavirus pandemic pointing out that they are yet to benefit from the special allowances allocated to their colleagues.