Conjestina among patients who escaped Mathari Hospital
Boxing
By
Game Yetu
| Dec 05, 2016
A major operation has been launched as more than 100 mental patients escape from Mathari Hospital in Nairobi over ongoing doctors and nurses’ strike.
Legendary boxer Conjestina Achieng was among those who escaped but was soon re-institutionalised and taken back to the facility.
In October, the ailing boxer was rushed to Kisumu District Hospital by well-wishers after her condition worsened as her family blamed the government for neglecting the former heavy weight champion.
Conjestina had to be sedated by doctors with the help of several security guards before being admitted for treatment after she turned violent.
She was diagnosed with Schizo-effective disorder/paranoid Schizophrenia on September 8, 2012, a disease associated with mental illness.
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She has become a constant target for ridicule. Perpetual rejection has been her way of life.
Conje has been to numerous hospitals, as her family tries to make her regain her form, but her condition keeps deteriorating. It is sad that her hitherto friends have all abandoned her.
Early last year, the Kenyan boxer, who participated in 27 international fights, winning 17 of them, was detained at a Nairobi hospital over a pending bill of Sh529, 000.
At her prime, Conje was a role model to many. But all the compliments and admiration have now been reduced to ridicule and gossip. That is the sad story of Conjestina 'Conje' Achieng.
Conjestina has been to a number of hospitals, with her family trying to make her regain her glory.
Doctors and nurses began a nationwide strike after talks called by the Health ministry collapsed on Sunday evening. In a press conference Sunday night, Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu said the ministry was scheduled to meet union officials at 5:30pm on Sunday but the officials did not show up.
Mr Mailu said the strike notice by Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Pharmacists Union (KMPDU) was premature as the 90 days a court had given medics and the State to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement had not yet elapsed.
The Health ministry, Treasury, Council of Governors and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had a day-long meeting yesterday over the impending strike. In the meeting, SRC boss Sarah Serem presented a review of the salary scale for health workers, which Treasury said it can implement but over time.
The Health ministry was to present this review to the unions at the 5:30pm meeting but officials did not show up. Mailu said the officials may have been holed up in another meeting.
He said the ministry was willing to negotiate and pleaded with health workers to report to work today to prevent a health crisis that may lead to loss of lives. Earlier, health workers warned Kenyans to prepare for the longest strike in history.