Emotional Nyikal cries over medics challenges
Seme MP James Nyikal broke down and sobbed uncontrollably as he narrated the challenges health-workers face daily as they battle the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nyikal, a former Director of Medical Services in the Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki governments was overwhelmed as he narrated how successive governments have failed to address the plight of health workers.
“The government is to blame for failing to enforce policies and standards meant at safeguarding the rights and welfare of doctors in this country,” a tearful Nyikal mumbled between convulsions.
Emotional delivery
The MP said doctors are not paid risk, extraneous and other allowances to cushion them against the risks they take.
“A lot of the problems doctors are facing are systematic,” the MP said.
He added: “Everybody is saying that you have to be patriotic, you must be human. Who said patriotism is suicide?” Nyikal said as he broke down.
Nyikal’s emotional delivery captured the mood of the meeting between health workers’ unions and the National Assembly committee on health.
The MP shed tears and expressed solidarity with the healthcare workers in a brief but tense moment that helped to mirror the country’s ill situation according to another member of the Committee.
The experience
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials had just finished presenting six key issues they want the government to address by December 6 or they ground services.
Several other legislators including Turkana Woman Representative Joyce Emanikor, Laikipia North MP, Sarah Korere and her Keiyo North counterpart, James Murgor followed suit forcing the session chairman, Cherangany lawmaker Joshua Kuttuny to calm them down.
The doctors’ submissions further revealed the harrowing experience they undergo attending to Covid-19 patients.
Secretary-General Chibanzi Mwachonda said health workers are not covered; neither are they paid any allowances as they put their lives on the line attending to Covid-19 patients yet such funds had been announced by the national government.
