Thread by @amerix

This #SuckingTheSick stories really hurt me.

I want to encourage you to consider visiting our public hospitals for care.

Public Hospitals are affordable, accessible and efficient.

Despite the negative reports, public hospitals really do well.

Thread...

Public hospitals, unlike private hospitals, don't have the capacity to employ Public Relations Officers or pay the media to clean their image.

Malfeasance happens in private hospitals too but because they protect profits, they silently sweep them.

#SuckingTheSick

Today for example, during the major ward round, I attended to a woman with a bad obstetrics history.

I would like to share her brief story.

This is a true story.

#SuckingTheSick

Mariam Maende (Not her name) is 43 years today. She was born in 1976.

She is a sister to a prominent politician.

( This confirmed to me that politicians never care about your welfare).

#SuckingTheSick

She has experienced 16 pregnancies before.

This is her 17th.

All the earlier 16 pregnancies aborted. All of them. None had gone beyond 28 weeks. None.

Now she is here admitted. Terribly sick.

#SuckingTheSick

I won't go into much details but,

She was previously admitted in a private hospital where a diagnosis of severe gastritis was made.

Despite being put on treatment, there was no notable desired change.

When hospital saw deterioration, they referred her here.

#SuckingTheSick

She was billed Ksh 26,700.

This is a lot of cash in the village.

And private hospitals have this penchant of dumping their mess to public hospitals so that they remain clean from blame.

#SuckingTheSick

Nonetheless, Public hospitals won't turn you away. They will admit you and start from the basics.

The basics for this woman was done.

I won't disclose results. But the results were basic.

#SuckingTheSick

Unfortunately,

She couldn't feel any fetal kicks and clinically, there was no fetal heart rate.

Her 17th pregnancy at 36 weeks had demised.

Another pain. Another anguish. Another dashed hope.

Money superseded the basic treatment.

#SuckingTheSick

I won't blame the woman.

We have been fed negative vibe about our public hospitals.

But, we need to change this.

Only us can make our public hospitals be what we desire them to be.

No politician will do this.

Demand better services from GOK hospitals.

#SuckingTheSick

Push your Governor to allocate more resources to GOK hospitals.

Seek partnerships with Sub County MOH. Counties can deliver.

For example, did you know all Health centres and dispensaries in Kakamega offer FREE services?

Just show up with your medical book.

#HospitaliZetu

Your taxes MUST work for you.

Our nonchalant attitude towards our GOK hospitals gives room for theft of money allocated to health.

These are your taxes. Use them.

#HospitaliZetu