Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) students in Mombasa County have asked the government to immediately find a lasting solution to the on-going doctors’ strike.
The students most in their final year claim that the government is not only ‘killing’ their dreams but also suppressing the health of innocent Kenyans.
Speaking to the media in Mombasa on Tuesday, KMTC Mombasa branch President Byron Oginga said medical students sitting their exams this year cannot access hospitals for their clinical practice due to the strike.
The president further noted that the strike has paralyzed health services within the county lamenting that thousands of Kenyans are bearing the brunt of the strike.
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“Innocent Kenyans are dying in public hospitals. Healthcare workers are our frontline soldiers during this period of Covid-19,” said Oginga.
He wants the government, the county government and the KMPDU top brass to facilitate the talks.
Meanwhile, Fathiya Ali, a final year medical and nursing student said all nursing practicals cannot be done calling for an urgent solution on the same.
She urged all the stakeholders to resolve the matter once and all.
She said “I’m expecting to sit my examination this year. And we are only left with one month to the examination. As it is right now we cannot do our clinical practice,” said Ms Fathiya.
Ms Fathiya noted that the strike has paralysed all health services in Mombasa County.
Coast Universities and Colleges Secretary-general Edwin Shamir lashed out at the county government on claims of what he terms as laxity in addressing the doctors’ strike.
Shamir further blamed the national government saying it is busy selling the BBI report to Kenyans while at the same time giving a deaf ear to the health sector.
“Building Bridges Initiative is not as urgent as health services. Health and education are key issues in this country. You cannot afford to play cheap politics to millions of Kenyans,” said Shamir.
He says the students will rally behind all medical students throughout the country should the government fail to address the doctors strike.
He called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to immediately find a permanent solution to the problem.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta, kindly do not sit comfortably in your office. Address this plight once and for all,” said the SG.
He accused the government on claims of playing cheap politics at the expense of Kenyans.
Last week, Mombasa county government rescinded an order to sack 86 striking doctors following negotiations with the Kenya Medical Practitioners’ Pharmacists and Dentists Union.
The move came a day after the county government sacked the doctors including KMPDU secretary general Chibanzi Mwachonda for refusing to return to work.
The strike is part of countrywide labour action by health workers against several issues including lack of remittances, lack of promotion among other issues.
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