The Ailing Hospitals in Kenya

There are two key sectors that always determine the wellbeing of a society and the nation as a whole. These sectors are:

• the health sector
• the education sector.

Unfortunately, these two sectors are the most forgotten and the most neglected sectors in Kenya with the government seeming to be paying limited interests in them.

The education sector has often been marred with numerous strikes from teachers and of late, arson among students in secondary schools. More than 90 schools have been set a blaze by students in a period of two months and the numbers continue to rise with each passing day.

The health sector in Kenya has also been ailing for so long. There has been numerous strikes from doctors as well as from nurses. Hospitals in Kenya are ailing and the common man in the streets is suffering. Those from the higher social class are able to afford medication from state of the art private hospitals but the ones suffering are the poor struggling taxpayers.

Early this year, Kakamega General Hospital was on the news headlines after patients were seen sleeping on a hospital floor with others sleeping on cartons. The hospital also was on the spotlight some patients died through some unclear circumstances. About patients sleeping on cartons, the management, including the county government, said that the hospital mattresses had been taken for marking so as to prevent people from ‘stealing them.’

Patients in Kitale District Hospital have complained that the hospital has no medicine. Patients are saying that currently, the hospital is only offering bed services while requiring patients to buy all the medicines including syringes.

Peter (not his real name) was brought in Kitale District Hospital after he took poison. His relatives say that ever since they brought him in, they have been buying everything with the hospital only providing water and bed.

“It is like a lodging. Sorry to say that. The only services offered here are bed services which the patient has to pay for, at least 500 shillings per day,” said one of Peter’s relatives.

The health sector was devolved and entirely placed under the control of county governments. The problem seems to be too big for the county governments to handle.

The conditions is Kenyan hospitals are pathetic. Should the matter just be left for the county governments as Kenyans continue to suffer?

Off the Cuff

Doctors have been complaining of poor pay and the government has taken long to address their grievances.

Nurses have often gone on strike complaining of poor pay as well poor working conditions.

Many hospitals have no medicines and the hospitals are in a pathetic condition.