AMPATH Surgery

The past three months in Eldoret have been filled with election drama and the healthcare system has continued to be plagued by strikes.  Despite that, AMPATH Surgery has been contining to provide surgical care for patients.  

The elections were held in early August, but has been challenged and there is much dispute as the correct way forward.  Everyday brings new opinions and decisons, the instability has lead to much heated debates.  Currently the re-elections are planned for Oct 26; however the main opponent has refused to participate.  Now, the rumors are that the re-elections moved to January.  In Eldoret, it has mostly been peaceful.  Riots and protests have been mostly in other urban centers such as Kisumu and Nairobi.  We hope that there will be peaceful resolution to the whole situation.  Will keep you updated as news progresses.  

A national nurses strike started in June, and continues to handicap the public health sector.  Similar to the doctors strike, the disagreement is on ways to improve the work conditions for the nurses who serve these patients.  Because Moi Teaching Referral Hospital is a national hospital (as opposed to a county hospital), the hospital administration was able to broker a deal for the return of nurses at the end of August.  This has returned MTRH to full function!  

However, another strike has plagued the healthcare sector when the clinical officers (equivalent to physician assistant in America) decided to strike in mid September.  This has forced many of the district hospitals to close its doors (county hospitals) as they are mostly staffed by nurses and clinical officers.   The case load has increased at MTRH, and we are seeing many more septic chronic wounds in our facility.  

This fund has helped support purchase of hernia mesh ($80), ultrasounds and CT scans for patients ($90), as well as cover admission costs for a patient who had no insurance and needed surgical management ($50).  Thank you for your continued support.