The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) wants the deal Kenya has with Cuba terminated following the death of Dr. Hamisi Ali Juma from Mombasa County.
In a statement on Monday, KMPDU Secretary-General said Dr. Juma was found dead on Sunday in his hostel room in Havana.
He had been on a Kenyan government sponsorship for family medicine studies.
‘DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS’
Dr Oluga said the programme should be closed immediately as “it has proven not beneficial to the doctors”.
“The arrangement has left Kenyan doctors vulnerable, frustrated and in deplorable conditions. This follows failure by the Kenyan government to secure proper housing, pay promised allowances and allow the doctors to reconnect with their families,” he said.
Health Workers must be guaranteed protection at their places of work.
— Dr. Ouma Oluga (@fnoluga) January 12, 2019
Politicians and more so governors thro' @KenyaGovernors must encourage members of the public to leave their violent habits at home while bring their sick to hospitals.@GovWWangamati @kmpdu @BungomaCountyKe pic.twitter.com/TwODipOYdN
Dr Oluga noted that Dr Juma had expressed desire to end his studies for these reasons.
“The doctors have constantly expressed their frustrations with the manner in which the government has withheld or completely failed to pay their living expenses in a foreign country. Further, the Kenyan embassy exhibits high-handedness when concerns are raised,” he added.
The secretary-general further complained that their Cuban counterparts “receive the royal treatment with chauffeured transport, lavish living, and triple the pay of Kenyan specialists funded by taxpayer money”.
Thuranira Kaugiria, who is the KMPDU Secretary-General for Nairobi, earlier said the doctors are paid Sh36,000 and that they had wanted the amount increased to Sh44,000.
DEATH BY SUICIDE
The Health ministry earlier reported that Dr Juma died by suicide and said his body will have been flown to Kenya by Tuesday.
“The circumstances surrounding his death are still not clear and we are still waiting on information from the embassy and the authorities,” he said, as quoted by a local paper.
The Kenyan Government lured 50 Kenyan Doctors from 47 Counties to a promise of training in Cuba that didn't come to be.
— KMPDU (@kmpdu) March 18, 2019
The result has been a very frustrating ordeal for the doctors but leaves one family in permanent sorrow and mourning.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un! pic.twitter.com/SwhtQAxWvi
“The ministry has taken necessary action and informed the family, the county authorities and the governor after verification of the information.”
A medic in the programme said Dr Juma was to travel on Tuesday to check on his wife and eight-month-old son as they had been ill.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
The union recommended that the sponsorship be provided though the five Kenyan universities offering family medicine.
They are Moi, Aga Khan, University of Nairobi, Maseno and Kabarak. Kenyatta University is developing the programme.
The KMPDU boss condoled with
Kenya sent 50 doctors to Cuba as part of an exchange programme aimed at improving services provided locally.
In May 2018, Health Principal Secretary Peter Tum noted the government’s commitment to making health care accessible to all and said this was the reason for the importation of 100 Cuban doctors.
He explained that in that country, most doctors work round-the-clock and that many developing countries were seeking support from it because of its superlative healthcare.
It is unfortunate that Kenyan doctors sent to Cuba are treated like slaves to the extent of them committing suicide while we treat Cuban medics back home like kings. 24 hour security, 1M pay , furnished apartments, free food and transport. It is unimaginable @SicilyKariuki
— Rein (@Asamoh_) March 18, 2019