Demonstrators can no longer rely on the services of volunteer medical practitioners during protests according to an announcement by Medics for Kenya.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Medics for Kenya, a group consisting of volunteer doctors, nurses, clinical officers, paramedics, psychologists, nutritionists, interns, and students announced the countrywide withdrawal of all medical camp services during protests.
The group has cited the changing nature of the protests and deployment of goons as the main reasons informing the decision to withdraw their services, saying the prevailing conditions during the demonstrations have endangered the lives of their volunteers.
“With the change in maandamano atmosphere and the deployment of goons, we as Medics For Kenya, highly value the lives of our volunteers. As we say in the corridors of hospitals, ‘Your Safety Comes First’. Therefore, it is with much regret and pain that we announce that MedicsForKenya will withdraw their medical camp services all across the country,” the statement read in part.
“This decision has been well thought out and discussed with various stakeholders, members of the committee, and volunteers. Our hotlines will, however, remain open and we shall be coordinating with various Emergency Response Services, Psychologists and Referral Hospitals.”
Violence against medics
The withdrawal of the medical practitioners follows Tuesday’s antigovernment protests that were infiltrated by violent groups, consequently leading to the destruction of property and loss of lives amid the nationwide demonstrations.
The medical practitioners who have been at the heart of the demonstrations, treating injured protesters while making sure the critically injured were referred to various hospitals for specialised care have in the past decried harassment from the police, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against them.
The group accused police of hurling tear gas canisters at a medical camp set up in a church compound in Nairobi while co-founder Dr Austin ‘JaPrado’ Omondi went missing for several hours before being released amidst massive condemnation from the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union who threatened to shut down all public and private medical services in order to locate their colleague.