By Andrew Wasike
NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenyan doctors halted providing emergency services at public hospitals, plunging the health care system into further turmoil as a national strike entered a second week Thursday.
Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), Davji Atella, said the union stands firm in its decision to halt even the most basic emergency services at hospitals.
"We are here and we made a resolution that even the bare minimum services, the emergencies that were being offered at some referral hospitals are now closed, and that is the reality," Atella told Anadolu.
He said the stance would continue until the government addresses the casualization of doctors, a key concern for the union in talks.
The strike has resulted in patients being deprived of critical medical care, sparking widespread concern across Kenya as thousands of doctors refrain from reporting to hospitals.
The decision to halt emergency services comes as doctors demand the government address grievances, primarily concerning delays in the placement of medical interns.
It has led to understaffing and delayed posting of 1,200 medical interns at hospitals.
Outside Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi, Mary Achieng' Otieno, a Kibera resident in the capital, is stranded and desperate for medical attention.
With her husband, Peter Otieno, by her side, Mary recounted her ordeal to Anadolu and lamented her inability to access treatment.
"I came here hoping to receive medical care for my worsening condition, but to my dismay, I have been turned away," she said with frustration in her voice. "I suffer from chronic hypertension, and the lack of medical attention puts my health at grave risk."
The strike, which began March 14, has had a significant effect on the health care system, with hospitals forced to turn away patients or operate with limited staff and resources.
The strike is affiliated with KMPDU, the largest medical professional organization in Kenya, with more than 8,000 members.
Health Minister Susan Nakhumicha issued a stern warning to doctors Wednesday.
"If you are supposed to be on duty and you are not on duty, we have gotten somebody else to do the job," she said.