Close watch on psychiatric patients at Gilgil hospital after Mathari escape

What you need to know:

  • Medical Superintendent Dorcas Murage said operations are going on smoothly despite the health workers’ strike.
  • Dr Murage said they have scheduled daily shifts to ensure that the patients are taken care of.
  • She revealed that patients in general wards have left.

Surveillance has been enhanced at the psychiatric section of Gilgil Sub-County Hospital in Nakuru following reports that psychiatric patients had escaped from Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nairobi after doctors went on strike.

The Gilgil hospital, which is an extension of Mathari, currently has 40 patients.

Medical superintendent Dorcas Murage said operations are going on smoothly despite the health workers’ strike which started on Monday.

"These are special people whom we can't abandon no matter the situation," she said.

Dr Murage added that they have scheduled daily shifts to ensure that the patients are taken care of.

"The kitchens, laundry and security is working well, only that some people will work extra hard as others will be away," said Dr Murage who was posted to the hospital one-and-a-half years ago and has been in charged for two months now.

She revealed that patients in general wards have been discharged.

"However, those under comprehensive care and treatment are still here. We are ensuring that they don't miss their anti-retroviral medication and nutrition," said Dr Murage.