Civil society groups in the Coast region are urging the government to address the concerns raised by medical professionals to bring an end to the ongoing strike and prevent further loss of lives.
The Coast Civil Society Reference Group, represented by various lobby groups, expressed their concerns during a press briefing in Mombasa. They highlighted the tragic cases of two babies who lost their lives as a result of the strike, emphasizing the dire consequences faced by residents who cannot access public health services.
According to Doris Ojiambo from the Collaboration of Women in Development, one of the babies died after their mother was turned away from a public hospital and subsequently referred to a private facility, which they could not afford. Similarly, another child lost their life after being denied adequate treatment at a public hospital due to the strike.
Zedekiah Adika, the chair of the CSOs network, criticized the lack of urgency displayed by political leaders in addressing the health crisis. He called upon the Council of Governors to take decisive action and engage with striking medical professionals to find a resolution promptly.
Adika also denounced the trend of politicians seeking medical treatment abroad while ordinary citizens suffer due to the lack of access to essential healthcare services. He emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of devolution and urged the Senate to intervene in the matter.
Fredrick Okado from Muhuri echoed similar sentiments, urging President William Ruto to take decisive action and ensure the implementation of past agreements between doctors and the government. He criticized Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha for what he perceived as a lack of commitment to resolving the health crisis.
Furthermore, Okado called upon governors to prioritize the health sector and ensure the implementation of agreements reached with medical professionals. He highlighted the dismal statistics showing that only a few counties have implemented agreements made in 2017, underscoring the need for urgent action to prevent further loss of lives.
