More than ten health workers have been injured while evacuating and treating protesters wounded in Nairobi since Tuesday. The Kenyan Medical Association condemned the violence and accused the police of deliberately targeting the medics.
The association is still gathering information nationwide on the injured doctors, nurses, and other health workers.
So far, over 300 people have been injured in the protests, primarily due to shootings and beatings by the police.
“Violence against healthcare professionals is unacceptable and goes against the principles of compassion and care that the medical profession upholds,” said Dr Diana Marion, the secretary general of the KMA.
Reports of attacks and abductions of healthcare workers, obstructed access to care, and barring of ambulances have alarmed the medical community. One doctor, Austin Omondi, also known as Ja Prado on social media, was released on Sunday after being kidnapped in Nairobi. He had treated the injured as a volunteer in Nairobi last week. As a result, several young Gen Z doctors have gone into hiding.
“The reported attacks and abductions of healthcare workers offering voluntary services are deeply disappointing. Such violence is against the very essence of the medical profession,” said Marion, a representative of the Kenyan Medical Association (KMA).
Government officials have yet to comment on these claims, but the KMA said it will continue demanding accountability and immediate measures to protect health workers in future demonstrations.
The KMA, which represents doctors across Kenya, emphasized the severe implications of these actions on the nation’s health and democracy. Marion stated that the attacks on health workers undermine the principles of a just and democratic society and have significantly contributed to the injuries and deaths reported over the past few days.
“The actions against healthcare workers and the obstruction of medical services violate the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees every citizen the right to health and medical care. Specifically, Article 43 (1)(a) ensures the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including the right to healthcare services,” she said.
The KMA also drew attention to international laws and standards, such as the Geneva Conventions and the policies of the World Health Organization, which mandate the protection of medical personnel and the unhindered provision of medical care during conflicts.
“The Geneva Conventions, to which Kenya is a signatory, mandate the protection of medical personnel. These actions also contravene WHO guidelines on medical neutrality,” Marion noted.
She also highlighted the World Medical Association’s policy on physician safety. This policy emphasises the protection and safety of healthcare professionals in all circumstances, particularly during crises.
No health worker was reported among the injured on Thursday, as protests continued in parts of the country.
By Wednesday, the Kenyatta National Hospital had received more than 200 injured people.
“We received our first patient at 11am (on Tuesday). We have 165 discharged and we operated on 72. There are 24 other patients who spent at the hospital overnight,” Dr Benjamin Wabwire, acting director surgical services at KNH, said on Wednesday morning.
Dr Wabwire said about eight were undergoing surgeries on Wednesday and 23 were on the waiting list for additional procedures.
“We have prioritised those who needed immediate procedures,” he said.
Dr Wabwire said the injuries range from trauma, and gunshot wounds from rubber bullets. Six patients had live bullet wounds.
“Most of the casualties were from Githurai estate. We have activated emergency response teams to ensure we can handle the influx,” he said.
He said 15 patients all came from Githurai and the hospital has established a desk to help families trace their loved ones.
“We have a triage system that’s colour coded to help us determine what cases to prioritise on. We mobilised our blood transfusion unit for blood donation but we need more; it can never be enough,” he said.
Separately, an ambulance service owned by the Kenya Red Cross Society, said on Tuesday they evacuated nearly 200 injured protesters to KNH and Nairobi West Hospitals.
