Agony marred Level Five Teaching and Referral Hospital in Meru on Thursday, August 1, 2024, as locals thronged the facility to withdraw their patients after doctors and nurses paralyzed services across the county.
According to a spot check by K24 Digital, patients admitted in different wards were left unattended while others who also visited the facility for treatments were turned away and asked to seek medical attention in private hospitals.
As of publishing this article, it was also reported that there were two patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
According to a doctor who declined to be named, the patients were waiting for their relatives to evacuate them to another health facility.
John Muthomi, one of the patients, said it was unfortunate to lack treatment at a public hospital.
“I don’t know what to do or where to go now I am in terrible pain because we cannot afford treatment at the private hospital and I don’t have medical cover,” Muthomi, who was suffering from a severe hand burn, said.
Some of the patients who were stranded, sort to lie desperately on the grass and hospital waiting benches as the outpatient, casualty and emergency departments remained closed.
The hospital in charge Leah Moriase was seen walking from one ward to another as union leaders told their colleagues to walk out of work until their demands are met.
Speaking at the referral hospital, the medics accused Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza of her high-handedness in addressing their grievances and meeting their demands which included promotions and an acute shortage of doctors and other medical staff.
The striking health practitioners at the same time claimed that some facilities operate without drugs and lack adequate medical equipment.
Kenya Union of Nurses Meru Branch chairman Mugambi Bakari and Secretary General Nesbit Mugendi said they felt pity and sympathized with patients who were forced to leave the facility due to lack of treatment.
“We are also human beings we feel for the patients especially some who cannot afford treatment at the private hospital but there is nothing we can do we have since last year been patient with the county government who have been giving us fake promises and now we have felt enough is enough,” Bakari said.
“It’s unfortunate because what we are witnessing here is building of the gate and toilets instead of prioritizing equipping the hospital with adequate drugs and equipment this is very ridiculous,” he added.
Vowing not to return to work until their grievances are heard and determined, they added the implementation of the agreement was to start by April 2024.
“The last time the county government made promotions was in 2017 during Governor Peter Munya’s reign. We demand promotions for staff who have remained in the same job group for more than 10 years,” Clinicians Secretary General Moses Baiyenia said.
Speaking on the phone to K24 Digital, Meru county CEC in charge of health George Muugania said that they are waiting for the County Assembly to pass the 2024/2025 budget to help them allocate funds for promotion and staffing of the health officers across all cadres.
“We had the meeting with the officials and we promised to implement their demands once we get the funding but they are not patient enough. We have already issued 162 promotion letters to common cadres,” Mungania said.
