Commentaries

State doing well in health care sector

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Published on Tuesday, 22 July 2008 20:36

I happened to be admitted to a public hospital for the first time at the Amenity Wing of Kisii General Hospital, which has now been upgraded to a Level Five hospital. I was hit by a reality shock to find myself in a very clean, well organised and hospitable environment.

Our public hospitals have, for a long time, been notorious for being excessively filthy and the staff, especially nurses, and non-medical personnel, quite rude.

The ambiance, treatment and food at the wing are simply exemplary. This big improvement in our public hospitals is not just confined to Kisii General Hospital. The improvement is evident in many other amenity wings across the country.

However, there is still quite a bit of a problem in the general wards of our public health facilities. This is unfortunate because the majority of Kenyans get admitted and treated in these general wards.

Nurses and non-medical staff need to be retrained in hospitality and professionalism. The food and environment, both in and outside the wards, must be kept clean and neat. One other thing that this government must urgently address is the enactment and establishment of a National Insurance Medical Scheme that will benefit all citizens; both employed and unemployed, poor or rich.

Many patriotic Kenyans are more than willing to dip a little deeper into their pockets to help disadvantaged fellow citizens access proper medical care.