Man dies, patients sent home as health workers' strike persists
Patients go home after they were released from Nyeri Provincial General Hospital on December 10, 2013 following the health workers strike. A middle-aged man died while awaiting treatment at the hospital. However, the Medical Superintended at the hospital Dr Silas Njoroge said the patient was at the casualty section and was in a critical condition and denied claims that he died of neglect. The hospital administration released all patients in the wards as the strike persisted. PHOTO/JOSEPH KANYI.
What you need to know:
- This comes a day after failed negotiations between the health workers union and the national and county governments on the contentious devolution of health services.
- Medical Superintended Dr Silas Njoroge said the patient was at the casualty section and was in a critical condition.
- Dr Njoroge said the nationwide strike had affected all hospital departments.
- Feeble looking patients were being helped by relatives to pack and vacate the wards.
A middle-aged man Tuesday died at the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital while awaiting treatment as health workers went on strike.
This comes a day after failed negotiations between the health workers union and the national and county governments on the contentious devolution of health services.
Doctors, clinical officers and nurses kept away from the hospital’s premises which is the largest referral hospital in the region leaving ailing patients on their own.
Speaking to the Nation, the Medical Superintended Dr Silas Njoroge said the patient was at the casualty section and was in a critical condition.
REFUTED NEGLECT CLAIMS
He refuted allegations that the man died as a result of neglect.
Dr Njoroge said the nationwide strike had affected all hospital departments including transport which was supposed to make it possible for patients to be taken to private hospitals to avoid possible deaths.
“Lucky enough we do not have very serious cases now.
We are left with only a few officers whom I managed to convince to stay back and make arrangements for transfer of patients and the incubated foetuses to Mathari Mission Hospital,” Dr Njoroge said.
He said they were transferring the nine incubators at the hospital to Mathari Mission Hospital to save five foetuses in them.
“We have made arrangements with the mission hospital to take in the five foetuses we have for incubation at their hospital because the hospital is literally closing due to the devolution issues.
TRANSFER FOETUSES
Because they do not have any incubators we are transferring the nine we have to their hospital as we speak,” he said.
Feeble looking patients who were being helped by relatives to pack and vacate the wards urged the governments to be humane and consider every Kenyan without discrimination when it comes decision making on critical issues like health.
“We are being asked to carry our patients away from the hospital beds, we do not have any idea where we are taking them as we cannot afford the exorbitant medical fees at the private hospitals. We are frustrated,” said Benson Mwangi whose wife had been admitted to the hospital.
Mr Mwangi said he had not been allowed to move his 40 year old wife Rachel Nyoabi from the hospital without settling a Sh83,150 hospital bill.
