It is a regular day for those who are not sick or don’t have a loved one in need of medical care in Kenya. However, for those in urgent need of medical assistance, the atmosphere is grim due to the ongoing almost month-long doctors’ strike.
Such a matter is so serious that negotiations should not have stretched for this long. Considering that over 39 million Kenyans can’t afford private medical care and rely on government services, which were inadequate even before the strike, the situation has escalated from bad to worse, and now to potentially deadly.
Hospitals have become a chaotic place. With doctors on strike, interns demanding their pay, nurses want to stay, lab technicians don’t know which way, and loads of work on social workers. All this time, the patients are groaning with pain, others are living with hope to see a doctor ‘tomorrow’, while sadly, there are those whose conditions can’t stand the voices of doctors singing mapambano outside.
In a country without doctors for almost a month, what does life look like there; Is it hot or cold? Is it dry or flooded? Are people happy or sad? The greatest treasure any person holds is their health. When it’s neglected, the consequences are painfully human: loss and suffering.
Who is responsible for the suffering of our people? Shouldn’t the well-being of citizens be the top priority for those governing the country? It appears that those entrusted with leadership are engaging in unnecessary conflicts and ego games, neglecting their duty to prioritize the welfare of the people.
Government officials and doctors, it’s time to set aside differences and return to hospitals. Innocent lives are at stake, and it’s urgent to act swiftly and save them from suffering.
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