Double challenge as health services halted
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West Pokot County residents are an unhappy lot following the ongoing health workers strike that has seen several small business enterprises closed down as those seeking medical services continue digging deeper into their pockets to access similar attention in private health facilities.
The health workers downed their tools weeks ago posing a big challenge in the health sector especially for those who have been depending on the public healthcare services considered affordable.
Patients are forced to seek medical assistance from private health facilities whom they lament are beyond the common person’s means.
A visit to the Kapenguria County Teaching and Referral Hospital revealed that a few sectors were opened but no patients could be spotted unlike before when the facility is always congested since it serves clients from even the neighbouring Trans Nzoia County.
The absence of patients has had a ripple effect to those whose businesses thrive from them.
A spot check indicated that almost all food kiosks around the institution have closed business saying both the health workers strike and the going of Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) students on recess had affected them.
“All my clients are either KMTC students or person’s coming to seek medical services or check on their loved ones admitted at our top referral hospital. For now, no business at all that is why I have closed my food kiosk which has been the only reliable source of income,” said Patrick Rotich.
Rotich said the strike has not only hit residents seeking medical services but also the small Enterprise business community that depends of the institution for their livelihood such as eatery and boda boda riders.
Retail shops near the hospital are also bearing the brunt wishing that the health workers’ strike ends so that their businesses resume to normal.
Food vendors have also deserted the area that is usually a beehive of activity considering that it was a strategic business location.
The residents want the government to look into the health crisis that they claim is hitting hard on the low income earners that mostly thrive on hand to mouth principle.
“I have been forced to enroll for SHA but still the limits in some of those facilities favours those with comprehensive health covers,” said Anne Cheyec.
By Richard Muhambe
Reporting originally appeared via Kenya News Agency. Read the full source for additional context.