Kenyan doctors have extended their nationwide work boycott, now entering its sixth day as of Tuesday.
Commencing on March 14, healthcare professionals initiated the strike, citing the government’s failure to address their concerns, notably the demand to assign 4,000 interns to medical facilities.
Davji Atellah, Secretary-General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), affirmed that the strike would persist until their grievances receive attention.
In response, Susan Nakhumicha, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health, stated on Tuesday that the government is actively engaged in addressing the doctors’ demands.
“I commend our dedicated doctors and healthcare workers for their commitment to serving the public, while the Ministry of Health collaborates with relevant stakeholders to tackle the issues raised by their union,” Nakhumicha expressed in a statement following her visit to key public health facilities in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
She assured citizens that public healthcare facilities remain open for treatment, emphasizing that healthcare professionals are available to attend to their needs.
Despite expectations, a scheduled meeting between Nakhumicha and union officials on Tuesday did not occur, thwarting hopes for a resolution to the crisis that has left numerous patients stranded throughout the East African nation.
Jacob Okumu, a patient in Kisumu, western Kenya, voiced frustration over the phone, stating, “This is the second day I have visited our main public hospital without receiving any help because of the doctors’ strike. The government should resolve the issue.
