Patients abandon Coast hospital
Expectant mothers ponder their next move after they were turned down at the Coast General Hospital maternity wing in this photo taken on April 15, 2015. Two patients have died in different hospitals in Mombasa County as the nurses strike continues. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |
What you need to know:
- Two weeks ago, the more than 1,000 nurses from public hospitals in the county vowed to paralyse operations at all public health facilities over poor working conditions and pay, including failure to a yearly uniform allowance.
- When contacted, Mombasa county health executive Ms Binti Omar said, “We are in a meeting sorting out the strike it is our first priority.”
- The situation is unworkable. It is just pathetic,” said Kenya National Union of Nurses Mombasa chairman Stanley Mwailongho. Chanting mapambano song the nurses asked patients to seek alternative measures.
More than 100 expectant women at the maternity wing of the Coast General and Referral Hospital discharged themselves as the strike by nurses continued to bite.
While some went to seek services at private hospitals, others looked for traditional midwives.
Shortly before they left, women who had developed complications groaned in pain outside the theatre.
“I have been here since 8 am waiting for midwives to help me deliver. I am going to Mishomoroni to wait for a traditional midwife. My colleagues have already left,” said Ms Mariamu Mkambe Gambo.
Ms Nduta Njeru , a referral patient from Malindi, urged First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, who has been campaigning for better maternal health, to intervene.
“Mine is a delicate case. I have a fresh wound and I have been waiting since Friday. Doctors have told me I need to be operated within three hours or I will die. Margaret Kenyatta we are suffering, hear our cries,” pleaded the mother.
POOR WORKING CONDITIONS
Two weeks ago, the more than 1,000 nurses from public hospitals in the county vowed to paralyse operations at all public health facilities over poor working conditions and pay, including failure to a yearly uniform allowance.
“Three nurses are taking care of rooms filled with expectant mothers and some are on the corridors delivering. Every day, a nurse helps 15 expectant women to deliver.
The situation is unworkable. It is just pathetic,” said Kenya National Union of Nurses Mombasa chairman Stanley Mwailongho. Chanting mapambano song the nurses asked patients to seek alternative measures. Mr Mwailagho criticised the county for failing to address issues raised by health workers.
When contacted, Mombasa county health executive Ms Binti Omar said, “We are in a meeting sorting out the strike it is our first priority.”
Port Ritz, Likoni, and Tudor district hospitals and the Shimo La Tewa prisons health facility have also been paralysed by the strike. Yesterday, babies were sharing incubators and resuscitators.
