Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) recently organized a peaceful protest in Nairobi, demanding the release of funds earmarked for interns’ deployment and the payment of post-graduate fees crucial for Kenya’s healthcare system. Unfortunately, the protest took a violent turn when Kenyan authorities confronted the health workers, resulting in KMPDU General Secretary Dr. Davji Bhimji Attellah sustaining a severe head injury from what is believed to be a teargas canister.
The actions taken by the authorities against the health workers have sparked outrage, with the PSI affiliate expressing concern over the unjust treatment. PSI General Secretary, Daniel Bertossa, strongly condemned the attacks on the doctors participating in lawful actions to better Kenya’s health system, emphasizing that violence against health workers striving to improve healthcare for all Kenyans is unacceptable.
Bertossa urged President William Ruto to address the situation publicly, demanding justice for the perpetrators of the violence against Dr. Attellah. The PSI also called upon the Kenyan government to meet the demands of the KMPDU and other healthcare unions by releasing the necessary funds to ensure the placement of medical interns, highlighting the critical need for support in the healthcare sector.
The solidarity of PSI with Dr. Attellah and all healthcare workers in Kenya facing adversity was made unequivocally clear, with a call for a thorough investigation to bring the culprits to account. The organization stated its commitment to closely monitoring the situation and engaging with the Kenyan government directly, as well as through its global network of affiliates, to address the pressing issues at hand.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by healthcare workers advocating for better conditions and resources in their profession, drawing attention to the importance of upholding workers’ rights and safety in the medical field. As Dr. Attellah recovers from the harm inflicted upon him, the support and solidarity of the PSI and its affiliates worldwide stand as a testament to the collective efforts to safeguard healthcare workers’ well-being and rights in Kenya and beyond.