Private hospitals in Isiolo continue to cash in from the ongoing health workers strike that has paralyzed services across the public health facilities causing suffering to residents.
With outpatient and inpatient services halted, patients have to dig deeper into their pockets to get the crucial services at private facilities that are charging exorbitantly.
At Isiolo Referral Hospital that also serves residents from Meru and Samburu, only emergency services, CT-Scan, renal and radiology services are being offered.
“I was forced to buy painkillers for my wife, who has been sick for almost a week now, because I have no money to take her to a private hospital,” 50-year-old Kiwanjani father of three said.
Hundreds of patients continue to throng private hospitals where social distancing rules is rarely observed as the proprietors’ cash in from the populace.
Unlike before, when Isiolo nurses never involved themselves in nationwide strike, the health workers have this time joined hands with counterparts from other counties as they push for better working conditions.
The Press Point is aware that nurses’ officials have been engaging health officials in cat-and-mouse games threatening plans to have them resume work.
The stalemate could worsen the situation as the county has been battling the deadly Rift Valley Fever that has already killed at least 10 people.
More than 500 striking health workers across the country have been sacked as the government makes good its threat to drop the protesting workers.
