This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
June 10, 2020 - Kisumu's public healthcare system is on the brink of collapse after doctors deployed in county-run hospitals joined a strike by nurses and clinicians over non-payment of salaries and risk allowances.
The strike, which began on Tuesday, has left patients stranded, with many being turned away from hospitals due to the lack of medical personnel.
At Kombewa Sub County Hospital, only the medical superintendent was present, while all other health workers, including doctors, stayed away from the hospital.
At the County Referral Hospital in Kisumu, caregivers returned patients back home, citing the unavailability of doctors and nurses.
Mark Onyango, who had taken his father to the hospital, was forced to return home with his ailing relative, saying, "I took my father from the hospital back home in Rabuor and for the time being, we will be nursing his wounds and giving him pain killers for the pain as we wait and see what will be done about the strike."
Patients who had been admitted to the hospital were issued with discharge letters on Monday and left the facility, while others waited for their relatives.
Lilian Atieno, whose mother was admitted to the female ward, had to return home due to the discontinuation of services, saying, "Apart from blood transfusion, we have also been discharged without X-ray examination and treatment. We don’t know what next to do because we cannot afford other facilities."
The strike is a result of the county government's failure to honor court orders and pay health workers their due salaries and allowances.
Nyanza Branch Kenya Medical and Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Chairperson Kevin Osuri said, "There is no doctor in all the public health facilities across the county, our members will continue staying away until the county honors the court orders."
Kisumu Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) branch Secretary General Maurice Opetu advised members of the union to stay at home and be safe, saying, "All this money was allocated but payments for promotions have not been effected and nobody is taking responsibility."
He claimed that the county government had allocated Sh250 million in the current budget for promotions and an additional Sh38 million in the supplementary budget, but the money had not been paid out.
