By Felix Njenga
Worth Noting:
- In Kiambu level Five hospitals only medical interns were seen walking in groups inside the hospital without attending to the patients as the casualty and medics operating rooms remained closed with no clinical officers nor doctors missing in site.
- Eric Mutai, a patient who travelled from Roysambu in Nairobi county said he always comes to Kiambu hospital to access mental health drugs but has now been disappointed since he could not get medication as prescribed for every week.
- “Every week I must attend a clinic to get medication for my condition but now I am forced to go back since the hospital is not operating,” said Mutai.
Health services in Kiambu County have been paralysed after healthcare workers downed their tools to protest their delayed salaries.
The medics downed their tools on Thursday last week citing that the county government has failed to heed to their pleas and are unable to work without their salaries.
“Things are thick outside here and we do not have our salaries. How are we expected to work with diligence when ourselves are unable to fend for our families?’ pondered one of the medics.
A spot check on the hospitals revealed that patients either accessing private hospitals and clinics while others going back home and other seating on the hospital benches for hours hoping to be attended.
In Kiambu level Five hospitals only medical interns were seen walking in groups inside the hospital without attending to the patients as the casualty and medics operating rooms remained closed with no clinical officers nor doctors missing in site.
Eric Mutai, a patient who travelled from Roysambu in Nairobi county said he always comes to Kiambu hospital to access mental health drugs but has now been disappointed since he could not get medication as prescribed for every week.
“Every week I must attend a clinic to get medication for my condition but now I am forced to go back since the hospital is not operating,” said Mutai.
Jane Njeri said that she came to the hospital to bring her daughter who is in school and had an appointment for her eyes condition and other ailment and after paying Sh 200 for hospital card she was informed that there are no medics to attend to her daughter.
“Why would the hospital make me pay for the hospital card yet they knew that there are no medics to attend to us? we have been told it can not be refunded back. we are disappointed,” Njeri said.
The hospital casual workers have also decried the lack of salaries for four months which has left them demoralised as no communication is given to them.
David Maina, Kiambu county health admin said that it was a nationwide problem since the exchequer has not yet released funds to the counties.
“This is not experienced only in Kiambu county as the national treasury has not yet released funds to the counties. It is not only the medics who have no salaries, county government workers are experiencing the same predicament,’ Maina said.
He called on all workers to have patients as the issue will be solved and they will get their salaries.
“In Kiambu county we have never delayed salaries for the workers. This is the first time we are experiencing this and I urge my fellow workers to be patient as we sought the matter,’ he said.
Besides the health workers demanding for their salaries they have also raised concerns as to why the county government promotions do not reflect on their salaries while some workers have stagnated in the same positions for years.
“Some of us were promoted but it was a promotion on paper and our salaries still reflect the same as before. Some have stayed for years in one position without promotions, this is unacceptable,’ o medic said.
They said that the hospitals are understaffed hence being overloaded with duties and work.
They accused the county government of employing people who are not from Kiambu despite many from Kiambu who have applied to work in various hospitals on a voluntary basis.
‘Our resumes are on the employer’s desk and we came along a long time ago and have been working on a voluntary basis. We heard some come in the other day and are employed leaving us waiting,’ a volunteer said.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers have complained of not being adopted as health care workers of the county despite being promised that they would be considered for full employment.
This among other grievances by the health care givers have seen residents suffering from accessing health services with many patients who cannot afford private hospitals medical services travelling long distances to take advantage of free medical camps being offered in the county by well-wishers in different parts of the county and across neighbouring counties.
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