Pain and agony at Nyanza's largest referral as doctors' strike bite

Joan Omondi, 32, a resident of Kisumu County, is at her wit's end. Omondi, a survivor of cervical cancer was scheduled for a screening at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).

Her hopes were however dashed upon being turned away at the laboratory because there was no one to attend to her.

"I had an operation and was supposed to come for a screening as a follow up to check on the progress. But I don't know what else to do now except go home and wait because I have no money to go to a private health facility," she says.

At the Outpatient Department, 37-year-old Nadhifa Ahmed has a backache so severe she can hardly walk or talk. Her face brightens when she sees this writer and she desperately calls out.

"Are you a doctor?" She asks. 

Ahmed paid a registration fee of Sh 50, only to be told by a clinical officer to buy drugs at a pharmacy. She knows she will not be getting any help at the hospital today and walks away crestfallen.

"I am in great pain and I just don't know what I will do," said Nadhifa.

Another middle-aged male patient who declined to identify himself said he had an appointment with a doctor over a chest problem but did not find him.

"He treated me last months and asked me to return for a check-up. Now, he is not there and the pain is worsening," he said.

Most offices at the expansive laboratory from where consultants work were dusty, and an indication that nothing much has been going on as the doctors strike continues. The cases above paint the picture of helplessness that continues to be witnessed in public health institutions even as a doctor's strike continues following a stalemate between the medics and government over pay.

For most of the day, the Casualty area at the hospital remained eerily quiet. On an ordinary day, ambulances from all over the region would be stopping outside the casualty doors; sirens blazing as they sped to drop off patients in a critical condition referred from other hospitals. Victims of road accidents in need of urgent and specialized medical care would also be brought in.

But not anymore. Nurses who reported on duty as early as 7.00 a.m., when this writer checked into the hospital, had little to do and engaged in chit chat among themselves.
A nurse told this writer that the much any critically ill patient can get from the casualty department is first aid since further treatment that may require the input of a doctor would not be handled there.

"No matter how serious the matter is, the nurse can only dress the wounds or stop bleeding which might be fatal, after which the patient will be asked to seek further treatment elsewhere. It should be understood that it is the doctor who is supposed to admit a patient, and that explains why our wards are empty," said the nurse.

Only a handful of patients trickled in through the doors. As though on cue, most patients who would ordinarily flock the Outpatient department were not there, save for the desperate cases who despite being aware that doctors were on strike, could not afford to go to private hospitals.

Wards at the referral hospital remained empty, and no casualty was being admitted. Reports the Standard were unable to verify with the authorities claimed, guards at the hospital gate were told to refer the very sick that needed admission to private hospitals.

Sources said that the nurses were cautious not to handle critically ill patients without advice from a doctor. We can help accident victims with minor injuries. "Any major hospital like this one cannot operate without doctors because of the serious cases it handles," added the nurse.