By Michael Oduor
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Taita Taveta branch Executive Secretary has demanded for more hospital facilities in the county to be included under Minet insurance to ease accessibility of health services by the teachers in the area.
While talking on the challenges teachers faced by teachers seeking for health services in the available facilities under Minet, Mr. Lenox Mshila, – the Executive Secretary noted that teachers get inadequate services under their medical cover.
“We want teachers to get good health services because we pay for the services,” said Mshila.
Starting in Taveta Sub-county, Mshila urged Minet to include Amina hospital and Horesha Hospital in Mwatate Sub-county.
He further urged Minet insurance to include Voi medical in Voi Sub-county to provide health services to the teachers.
“I am calling upon all those responsible in providing health services across the county to provide teachers and their families with quality health services,” he said.
According to Mshila, Minet insurance has agreed to take back their services in Voi County referral hospital in Voi which will resume by mid-March.
“We have also agreed that apart from inpatient services, outpatient services will also be provided at St. Joseph’s Ikanga by March this year,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mshila calls upon the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) welfare and those responsible to stop deducting teachers’ money without their consent.
He noted that women teachers in Taita who were registered in KEWOTA without their consent and that they are being deducted Ksh. 200 every month which he said should stop immediately.
“The money which teachers are being deducted should stop immediately. If this continues, teachers in this county may go on strike,” said Mshila.
He however advised KEWOTA stakeholders in the county and across the country to halt deducting teachers their money, talk to teachers and later on register teachers at will for the program.
“If they want to continue with the program, let them stop it first, come talk to teachers and if they agree, they will register them officially with their consent,” he said.
