HIV/Aids patients against poor medical services

By Linah Benyawa

Mombasa County. There was a standoff at the Coast Provincial General Hospital as persons living with HIV/Aids stormed the premises protesting at poor services.

The over 200 protestors from different support groups were up in arms over the deteriorating services, saying their lives were at risk.

Forced to buy drugs

And even the security guards who were manning the largest referral hospital in the province could not stop the agitated protestors from entering the hospital and demanding to be heard.

Rose Ondego from Kenya Network of HIV-positive Teachers, said patients, who can barely meet the cost, have been forced to buy drugs for opportunistic infections yet those drugs are supposed to be given free by Government.

"People are succumbing to Aids as we watch helplessly and also the quality of services offered has deteriorated," said Ms Ondego.

Millicent Onyango, a HIV/Aids patient, explained that she had to seek services at Government hospitals where she had to pay for medication.

Cant access drugs

"The fact that we can’t access drugs in hospitals is worrying because if nothing is done then we might die soon because the Government is not taking care of our needs," she said.

She added that X-ray services were no longer provided at the provincial hospital, since the machines were always faulty, forcing patients to go to private hospitals’ for the service.

They also wanted the Government to honour her commitment to UN convention that it allocates 15 per cent of the budget on health matters to avoid over dependence on donor funding, which was dwindling.

The hospital’s Director of Support Services David Mwangi agreed to a meeting on Monday when the protesters would table their grievances.

"For there to be dialogue, you have to select representatives whom we would talk with on Monday next week," said Mr Mwangi.