Are Kenyan heads of workers organizations so vocal that their efforts are always noticed all over the world or is it that other parts of the world cannot produce vocal union leaders like Kenya?
Well, after COTU boss Francis Atwoli bagged an international position in the representation of workers worldwide, KMPDU secretary general Ouma Oluga has today been elected president of all health workers in the world.
Dr Oluga will now lead the global coalition of medical workers for two years, beginning this week.
The Health Workers 4 All Coalition is a global coalition of health workers formed during the 71st World Health Assembly last year.
The coalition advocates for universal access to skilled health workers everywhere in the world.
“Everyone deserves the right to access a skilled, motivated and supported health worker,” he told the Star on Wednesday.
Oluga will co-chair the global body alongside Amanda Banda from Amsterdam.
The coalition draws membership from the International Council of Nurses, World Medical Association, Public Service International, Médecins Sans Frontières, Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network, Amref Health Africa and 30 working in human resources for health.
He is the current secretary general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union.
Oluga said the development grants Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union the opportunity to advocate for the employment of more skilled health workers in Kenya to support the Universal Health Coverage.
He graduated from Moi University’s School of Medicine in 2010.
Oluga was jailed in February 2017 for leading a 100-day nationwide strike over a labour dispute between doctors and the government.
In the days prior to incarceration, he rallied doctors and the public to champion for more employment of health workers.
He later signed the first-ever public health sector agreements between KMPDU and the 47 devolved governments and the National Government.
Currently, Oluga attends to patients at the Kenyatta National Hospital as a frontline health worker.
He will graduate with a Masters of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi this year.