A health worker from Msambweni County Referral Hospital in Kwale County has reached out to Cyprian Is Nyakundi with a worrying message about the collapsing state of healthcare in the region.
In a message shared with him, the worker pleaded for the information to be made public, describing a desperate situation that threatens the lives of many patients.
According to the health worker, Msambweni hospital, which is supposed to serve as a referral facility, is operating without basic medical supplies.
Patients are being asked to buy gloves, IV fluids, glucometer strips, and even common drugs out of their own pockets. The worker explained that this lack of support has pushed health staff to go on strike.
They are protesting not just poor working conditions but also delayed salaries, lack of promotions, and non-payment of arrears for those who were promoted earlier.
The worker revealed that salaries come late, sometimes only being paid on the 20th of the following month.
Follow-ups made by health staff have been met with hostility. One of the most painful responses reportedly came from County Secretary Silvia Chidodo, who told them, “kama hamtaki resign, go to other counties.”
This has left many of the workers frustrated and feeling disrespected.Even more disturbing, the health worker told Cyprian Is Nyakundi that the county government responded to the strike by sponsoring goons to threaten and disrupt the protesting workers.
They named those allegedly involved, including Bakari Mwayoyo, Director of Sports, Masood Shughuli, Director of Roads and Infrastructure, and Dr Mujiba, Chief Officer of Health. Instead of solving the crisis, this move has only made things worse, increasing fear and tension among already overwhelmed health staff.
Inside the ICU at Msambweni, the situation is heartbreaking. Machines are not working. There are no functioning ventilators or monitoring equipment, and the hospital has no funds to repair or replace them.
The staff are stuck, and patients who need emergency care are left helpless. The health worker warned that more deaths are likely, not because the medical team is failing, but because there are simply no tools to save lives.
They ended by urging leaders in Kwale to wake up and take the issue seriously before the health system completely breaks down.
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