Resolve health crisis, medics urge President Uhuru

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has accused both the national and county governments of neglecting public hospitals.

Speaking in Nakuru, the union's national chairman Samuel Oroko said the slow pace in handling the Influenza A and B, and Hepatitis A outbreaks in Nakuru and Mombasa counties was worrisome and urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene.

The union said misplaced priorities in the Health ministry was the cause of numerous outbreaks of preventable diseases in the country.

"It is saddening to see vulnerable Kenyans and children dying because the counties and the national government have failed to safeguard their lives. In Nakuru, over 40 children have succumbed to influenza, something that should have been controlled if proper measures were taken instantly," said  Oroko.

He asked the Government to facilitate countrywide vaccination of health workers to avoid the risk of being infected while carrying out their duties.

"As we speak, two doctors in Mombasa are hospitalised after being infected with Hepatitis A while attending to patients. For long, such people who swore to safe lives despite the risks have been neglected by the authorities," said Oroko.

He described the third governor's devolution conference kicking off today in Meru as a waste of time and taxpayer's money, saying devolution of health had miserably failed across the country.

"As they retreat to Meru to discuss the fruits of devolution, governors should be clearly told that they have left their people mourning. We demand for extra vaccines and not empty rhetoric," he added.

He warned that vaccine for Influenza A and B was an expensive drug and urged the Government to consider including it in the national vaccination programme, saying the outbreak in Nakuru clearly showed that the counties lack the capacity to manage the outbreak.