Only medical officers employed on contract and clinical officers were on duty.
Out-patient department was not working and wards had no patients.
KMPDU Secretary General Devji Atellah
Services at the Kakamega County General Hospital were
crippled on Tuesday as doctors’ strike entered day two.
Patients were turned away and those in critical condition were referred to faith-based health facilities within the county.
Only medical officers employed on contract and clinical
officers were on duty.
Medical officers were manning different departments, but
couldn’t work without consultants.
The outpatient department was not working, and the wards had no
patients.
The hospital management stopped admissions on Monday and
discharged patients who were in wards, except those on oxygen.
The medical officers and clinical officers were referring
patients to either St Mary’s and St Elizabeth Mission hospitals in Mumias and
Kakamega respectively.
Peter Ajevi said he had come for a medical check-up but had
to return home without seeing a doctor.
“I’m forced to go back home. We want to urge our county
government to intervene and implement what doctors are demanding so that we can
continue getting quality health services.”
“My problem requires a doctor's intervention, but I had no
idea of any strike before I arrived at the hospital. I have found a nurse, and
she has told me doctors are on strike, so I have to wait or continue using the
prescribed medications, and I don’t know how long it will take. I pray the
government intervenes because the situation is dire,” said Ann Khasoha, another
patient.
Hospital medical Superintendent Dr Christian Lamba said he
was not authorised to talk to the media and referred all inquiries to the
Health Services Executive, Livingstone Imbayi.
“Talk to the CEC health. He’s the one allowed to address the
press,” he said.
Imbayi did not answer calls or respond to text messages.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists
Union withdrew its members from health facilities in the county, saying the
county government had failed to implement the 2017 Collective Bargaining
Agreement.
They accused the county of systemic neglect of its members.
Speaking during the union’s Western branch annual general
meeting in Kakamega on Saturday, KMPDU secretary general Dr Davji Atellah said
the strike was a response to years of systemic neglect.
Doctors have complained of not having promotions for seven
years, statutory deductions are not being remitted, many are stuck on
exploitative locum contracts earning less than a third of CBA rates and they
lack medical insurance.
