A man in his late thirties expressed relief after he finally got admitted to a hospital in Machakos County.
Geoffrey Masanga said his attempts to access medical care in some hospitals had been futile due to both the NHIF controversy and the ongoing doctors’ strike.
Masanga said he travelled to Machakos County to seek healthcare after some facilities in Kakamega County declined to treat him using the NHIF card only for the situation to be worsened by the national doctor’s strike.
He had to be accommodated by a relative in Machakos County as he sought medication in both public and private hospitals in vain.
“I have sought treatment in both Kakamega and Machakos counties’ hospitals to no avail. It took me time to get to this facility where I am receiving good treatment,” Masanga said.
Masanga addressed reporters at Katani Level 4 Hospital in Machakos County on Friday.
The patient said he was referred to the facility by a stranger who met him roaming Machakos town streets in an attempt to get a health facility for medication.
“The hospital where I sought medication in vain before coming here was a public one. When I went to the government facility, I was told that doctors were not there. I waited for a doctor to come to the hospital so that I could be treated to no avail,” Masanga said.
He said three private hospitals he visited in Machakos County also turned him down due to his inability to raise the required medical bill before admission.
“It’s God’s favour that I’m here. I now feel better having received treatment since I was admitted three days ago,” Masanga said.
Masanga’s plight isn’t much different from various patients and their relatives who have expressed their frustrations in the quest to access healthcare during the ongoing doctors’ strike.
The situation has been worsened by the fact that most private hospitals no longer treat NHIF cardholders across the country.
Anita Fallen who is also admitted at Katani Hospital said she travelled to the facility from her parents’ Thika home in Kiambu County.
Fallen said she sought medication at the facility after she failed to get treatment in two public hospitals she had visited. Doctors were unavailable due to the strike.
“I have been here for three days now. I feel much better and hope to be discharged soon,” Fallen said.
She said it was the doctors’ strike that made her travel from Thika to Machakos for medication.
Farhia Osman said she was glad doctors at Katani Hospital, her family health facility, hadn’t gone on strike.
Osman, an outpatient at the hospital had visited the facility for treatment when reporters visited. She was accompanied by her husband Mohammed Adan.
Adan said his family had been resident patients at the facility for one year now.
“This is the nearest hospital to our residence. Unless you get to Kitengela, Syokimau, Mlolongo and Athi River, you can’t get such a facility. It has standard services with modest charges,” Adan said.
The hospital’s CEO Dr Modesta Vesonda said they were ready to receive more patients suffering due to the strike.
Vesonda said lots of patients who were stuck with nowhere to seek healthcare had been treated and discharged from the facility.
“Most of such patients told me they had visited other facilities only to be told to return home and get back when doctors resume work. They were stressed about it,” Vesonda said.
She said the most affected patients were those who needed specialized services.
“Patients should know that there is hope even when doctors are on strike. Katani Hospital is open and serving the community,” Vesonda said.
Vesonda said patients visit the hospital from various counties including Kakamega, Busia, Kajiado, Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru and Machakos.