This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On Monday afternoon, Judith Akinyi, 38, checked into Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, complaining of a severe stomach ache.
Her condition had begun deteriorating two weeks prior, prompting a visit to Avenue Hospital, where doctors found no issue.
However, when her condition worsened, she was rushed to the referral hospital, where an X-ray revealed an ectopic pregnancy.
According to Dr. Marvin Oluoch, the patient's fallopian tube had ruptured and was bleeding, but she was attended to in time.
Ms. Akinyi's sister, Mary Odondo, expressed shock at being told to transfer her to a private hospital due to the doctors' strike.
"We were shocked to be told to transfer her to a private hospital because doctors were on strike," Ms. Odondo said.
Fortunately, the patient was eventually taken to Port Florence Community Hospital in Otonglo for the surgery and is expected to be discharged after three days.
However, many families in Kisumu are not as fortunate, as they cannot afford to take their loved ones to private hospitals due to the ongoing strike.
The strike, which has lasted a month, has left the lives of patients at risk as the Governor Anyang Nyong'o-led devolved government fights with doctors over various issues.
The doctors have insisted on remaining on strike until their demands are met, including the settlement of their salaries and promotion of deserving ones.
According to the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentist Union, doctors should be paid promotion arrears backdated to July 2019.
