August 21, 2014 - Today's News In Gazetikenya

HEALTH CRISIS | Nine patients have died so far due to lack of medical care

Death and agony as strike halts treatment at hospital

Striking doctors at the Coast General Hospital have refused to resume work until all their grievances, including payment of their July salaries, are met. Patients and their relatives broke down in tears after failing to get treatment. In another tragedy baby Islam Saidi died yesterday after surgery at the hospital to open his anal passage. Doctors said he died of cardiac arrest. (See separate story). He died the Intensive Care Unit at 3am. Yesterday, patients and relatives were turned away by guards because there was no one to serve them. More than 20 patients were queuing outside the emergency ward while others lay on the floor.

A nurse, who did not want to be named, said nine people had died since the strike started on Sunday. The few doctors at the hospital were not working, with administrator Benjamin Mwero saying he was trying to convince his colleagues to resume duty. The doctors later met Dr Mwero to discuss a return-to-work formula. “They have promised me that they will resume work by the end of the day (Wednesday) but they wanted to see me before doing so,” Dr Mwero told journalists at the hospital at 12 pm.


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