MTRH wins Occupational Health & Safety Practice Award

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) are the new winners of the 2019 Occupational Health & Safety Practice Award in the Health Sector.

The country, yesterday,  joined the rest of the world in marking the World Day Safety and Health at work. The event observed worldwide reflects on the prevention of accidents and illnesses that are likely to arise from work environments.

The Occupational Health and Safety Practice Awards is aimed at promoting safety and health at the workplace. It is awarded to enterprises that have demonstrated commitment to improving occupational safety and health standards at the work place.

The second largest Referral Hospital in the country credited the achievement to the incorporated improvements in the Work Environment, respecting and according to employees’ rights, and focusing on the patients and citizens at all times.

While receiving the commendation, MTRH boss Dr Wilson Aruasa lauded the Hospital’s Occupational Safety & Health Committee chaired by the Director of Nursing Services, Mr Titus Tarus for the great achievement.

“It’s a long-drawn journey that cannot be achieved overnight. The adage that a child must crawl, then stand up to walk before running, remains true. All these are efforts we have put over time, including developing our HR instruments and having them approved by Ministry of Health and the State Corporations Advisory Committee( SCAC),” Dr Aruasa told Business Today in an interview.

[ Read: Report: Kenyans unhappy with “poor” services in public hospitals ]

“These are the instruments which set out the policies and principles of handling all staff issues. Signing and fully implementing CBAs with the 3 unions that represent our staff, namely KMPDU, KNUN and KUDHEIHA. Close consultations with staff. Having Staff Open Days/ Work Councils at various Directorates of the Hospital,” he added.

The fire hydrants in the hospital environment are well serviced and fire extinguishers Fire Assembly Points, sensitizations and Fire Drills are maintained.

The award comes high on the heels of the Certificate of accreditation to ISO 15189:2012 Medical Laboratory Standard presented to the Hospital’s Laboratory Department.

[ See also: 5 reasons why private hospitals hire unqualified nurses ]