Kenyan doctors on Tuesday, December 8, issued fresh demands following reports of the deaths of their colleagues.
In a press conference, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) called for the Ministry of Health (MoH) to cater for outstanding bills and compensate families of deceased medics.
"We demand MoH to take full responsibility for outstanding bills and compensation of families,” the acting Secretary-General for the KMPDU Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda stated.
He noted that health care workers were being exposed at their workplaces and were getting sick and dying from the disease.
Dr Mwachonda further warned that the planned doctors' strike would resume on December 21 if matters of safety, health insurance and staffing were not resolved.
On Monday, December 7, the doctors called off their strike pending negotiations with the government.
On his part, KMPDU chairperson Dr. Samuel Oroko faulted politicians for making insensitive remarks against health workers.
“This nonsense of people dismissing issues raised by health care workers is insensitive…tulirigogwa na nani (who bewitched us?)..it is extremely painful.
"When this is happening some governors go to media to say health care workers should relax it is time for BBI. It is extremely unfair,” Dr Oroko stated.
The doctors expressed their support for the nurses downing their tools seeking compensation for 26 families of their colleagues who succumbed to Covid-19.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong was on the receiving end when he challenged doctors to call of their strike and wait till the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) process was concluded.
"These doctors, nurses, and clinical officers who want to strike, it will not help you. Let's sit down and talk. You, health people, relax until the BBI is concluded and see whether it will bring better things," stated the governor.
This comes following the death of 28-year-old doctor Dr Stephen Mogusu, on Monday, December 7.
In a statement, the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) disclosed that Mogusu did not have insurance and his young family had been left without compensation.
