Kennedy Miriti, Kilifi County’s Reproductive Health Coordinator, is urging the national government to take swift action to address the alarming rate of nurses leaving the country. Speaking at Kilifi County Referral Hospital after a procession marking the end of Nurses and Midwives Week, Miriti highlighted that newly employed young nurses are increasingly moving abroad for better opportunities.
Miriti noted that since the 2017 national nurses’ strike, the number of nurses in public health facilities has significantly decreased due to this exodus. He emphasized that this trend poses a serious concern for both county and national governments, as many nurses leave after working in the country for just three to four years.
He attributed this mass migration to several factors, including lack of career progression, poor working conditions, understaffing in hospitals, and inadequate remuneration. Miriti pointed out that most nurses prefer countries like Australia, the UK, Canada, and the US, where they receive better salaries.
“I am urging the government to consider taking this matter with seriousness because the mass exodus has hit hard the cadre of well trained and skilled healthcare providers who are the majority in level three and four hospitals,” said Miriti. He observed that most nurses have migrated to countries such as Australia, UK, Canada and US among other European countries for better salaries.
Miriti called on the government to take this issue seriously, as the departure of well-trained and skilled healthcare providers is severely impacting the healthcare system, especially in level three and four hospitals. He also urged the government to find effective solutions to manage the issues affecting medical professionals and improve the retention of healthcare workers.
“We know the health sector has been facing challenges for a while but they have enough resources to absorb more medics through proper arrangements,” added Miriti.
