Health

Mandera doctors join nationwide strike after delay over Ramadan

The Mandera County Referral Hospital, whose doctors have joined the strike initiated by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU). (Photo: Adan Mohamed)

By Adan Mohamed | Monday, April 15, 2024

They say they delayed their strike to keep from burdening the people during Ramadan.

Doctors in Mandera County have joined their colleagues across the nation in a strike that commenced on March 15, led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

Doctors are pushing for, among others, higher pay, improved working conditions, internship postings for medical graduates, and the fulfilment of the collective bargaining agreement reached after the 100-day strike of 2017.

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Warsame Hussein, a cardiologist at the Mandera County Referral Hospital, explained that they delayed their strike to keep from burdening the people during Ramadan.

"We are Muslims. We didn't want to stress our people during the holy month of Ramadan so we decided to join our colleagues later," Warsame said.

Like their colleagues across the country, he noted that they would not return to work until all their demands were met.

Among the issues raised by the doctors in Mandera is the lack of promotions, with Warsame noting that some have gone more than a decade without any growth.

They are also demanding leave to further their studies and better facilities at referral hospitals to improve working conditions.

"We are ready for any kind of talk with the county or the national government but as of now, no one has approached us."

The doctors at the Mandera County Referral Hospital also noted the lack of the basic medical cover, which affects their families' access to healthcare services.

Responding to the strike, Mandera County's chief officer for medical services, Adow Ibrahim Mohamed, assured that operations at the county referral hospital would not be affected.

"Hospital operations have not been disrupted because there are senior doctors and consultants in the county health management team who are not unioniseable employees," Adow said.

He told the public that all operations, including theatre services, were being handled efficiently.

Mandera County Referral Hospital, situated in the Mandera triangle between Somalia and Ethiopia, experiences a constant influx of patients.