The Government has pledged 50,000 more nurses by 2024.
Unemployed nurses and health workers from Kenya will have the chance to work in the UK under a new scheme.
An agreement between UK health secretary Sajid Javid and Kenya’s cabinet secretary for labour cooperation Simon Chelugui will see unemployed healthcare workers granted a “special route” to work in the UK.
The new arrangement will help the Government deliver on a pre-election pledge to deliver 50,000 more nurses by 2024.
Mutually respectful relationship.
The agreement is open to Kenya’s surplus health workers who are qualified but unemployed.
Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid, said: “We have a historic and mutually respectful relationship with Kenya.
“This has been strengthened by working closely with Kenya during the pandemic and sharing UK vaccine doses to support Kenya’s fight against COVID-19.
“Our healthcare agreement will make the most of UK and Kenyan health expertise which will be beneficial to both countries, with the exchange of knowledge and training which will provide first class healthcare.”
30th largest NHS nationality.
While the exact number of nurses and other healthcare workers is unknown at present, it is expected to be confirmed in the next few months.
It comes as Prime Minister Johnson confirmed the donation of 817,000 COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine doses for Kenya.
In the NHS in England, there are 894 Kenyans working across all roles – this makes Kenyans the 30th largest nationality group in the NHS.
