The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued a statement following the death of an intern doctor who worked at the Gatundu Level 5 Hospital.
Dr. Desree Moraa Obwogi tragically died by suicide on Sunday night, September 22, with her death attributed to overwhelming work pressure.
A suicide note found beside her indicated that she faced a stressful work environment and personal challenges, including financial difficulties and excessive work hours without enough rest.
In a statement signed by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, the union on Tuesday, September 25, demanded better work environments that prioritize doctors' mental health as well as timely and fair compensation.
Additionally, the union called for action to be taken against people in authority who abuse and exploit young medical practitioners.
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"Dr. Moraa’s death is a sad but glaring manifestation of our country’s broken healthcare system that feeds on the unpaid and underpaid labor of young doctors and continues to undermine their safety and basic human rights.
"A workplace should not make workers feel so isolated and desperate that they believe there is no way out. The system as designed failed Dr. Moraa and many others who we have mourned before. It is a dangerous system that will continue to wreak havoc on the lives of healthcare workers," the statement read.
Intern doctors face significant challenges, including burnout, stress, and poor working conditions.
Many report working long hours due to staff shortages and inadequate resources, leading to mental health issues like depression.
The strike by medical interns in July stemmed from prolonged delays in their postings, with over 1,000 interns waiting for nearly a year to begin their essential training.
Interns expressed frustration over perceived neglect by KMPDU, feeling their concerns were ignored after previous agreements failed to resolve the posting crisis.
"We had a meeting with KMPDU officials and we are so angry that they are in bed with the government on things like the idea of batch posting. How can they be comfortable with such ignoring the 2017 CBA they signed with the government dictates?" Hasan Ali, a medical intern posed.
The Ministry of Health has committed to addressing these issues, but ongoing protests indicate that interns remain dissatisfied with the pace of reforms.
