Patients suffer as medics down tools in Machakos

Patients attending Machakos Level 5 referral hospital have appealed to the county government to address health workers grievances in the county.

The  call come as strike by doctors, clinical officers and public health officers entered day four on Friday, paralysing health care services in public health facilities over what they termed as  delay of promotions.

The county government of Machakos has warned striking health workers that they risk losing compensation for days not worked.

Last week doctor's union, Kenya Union of Clinical officers and Kenya public health union issued a strike notice to the county government demanding promotions which they claimed were long overdue.

"Despite the strike notice the county government has not taken serious action towards ensuring patients do not suffer.It is very disappointing that despite having a memorandum,we are still where we were three years ago,"said Charles Okumu , lower Eastern chairperson of doctors union.

Patients interviewed by AVDelta News yesterday said  Governor Wavinya Ndeti should find a quick and lasting solution in addressing healthcare challenges at hospitals in the county.

"It has become very hard to get treatment because health workers have withdrawn their services. This is a big problem for us because we don't have money  to seek treatment in private hospital because the hospital is not running," a patient Mary Muia told AVDelta News outside Machakos Level 5 refarral hospital.

Another patient Peter Mutuku called on county government to move with speed and fix the problem saying that they are suffering because they not getting any treatment.

Since the strike started on Wednesday several of relatives thronged the hospital facility to withdraw their loved ones who have been on in-patient treatment to seek alternative treatment at private clinics after reports went round that two patients had died while waiting for treatment.

"We will not return to work unless the government honors its commitment we had  agreed recently ," said a striking worker who did not want to be named.

However, the county government has declared the striking health workers,County secretary Muya Ndambuki and Urbanus Mutisya chairperson of county public executive for health workers to go on strike yet many of their grievances had already been addressed.

Mutisya noted that he was aware the county executive had been engaging over issues including the strike notice by health workers this week , saying that they are demand of the health workers except the promotion issue that they now discussing it.