Relief as hospital hires foreign medics

Medical services at Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH) have resumed after the facility hired doctors from the East African region to mitigate the worsening healthcare situation.

However, the services are limited to cancer treatment at the oncology department which is the hospital’s flagship area, according to the Board Chairperson Prof Olive Mugenda.

Addressing journalists on Monday after inspecting the operations, Mugenda said they have hired five doctors, three from Ethiopia and one each from Tanzania and Malawi.

“Just like other hospitals, we’ve been affected by the doctors’ strike but I’d like to thank some of our doctors who are still offering services like in the radiotherapy department and the imaging centre, the renal centre as well accident and emergency. However, the oncology department had stopped services,” Mugenda said.

She noted that many cancer patients had already started their chemotherapy before the strike began and they were forced to go home without being attended to.

“With the permission and help from the government, we were able to get some doctors from the region and clinical oncologists from Monday and they have been attending to patients and that’s why chemotherapy has started,” Mugenda said.

The Chairperson noted that many cancer patients had already started their chemotherapy before the strike began and they were forced to go home without being attended to.

Meanwhile, the uncertainty of giving birth without a medical attendant due to the ongoing doctors strike and not being able to afford private hospital services fees has pushed some expectant mothers to turn to known traditional birth attendants to offer assistance during child birth.

“I am due for delivery in one week time. I have already identified a known traditional birth attendant in the neighbouring Sholinke village, about 15kms from my home. We have agreed that I will pay a fee of Sh3, 000. I had to take this option as I cannot afford services at a private hospital.

"Being my second pregnancy, I cannot give birth without an attendant, my first pregnancy was tough and I laboured for more than 72hours. The traditional birth attendant may not have the required skills and facilities but at least she can handle some complications using traditional knowledge,“ narrates Joyce Muthoka a resident of Kitengela.

Muthoka says despite involving a traditional midwife, she still feels insecure but circumstances have forced her to just remain optimistic that all will go well.

When contacted the traditional midwife told People Daily that she has received several bookings from expectant women who are interested in her services.