Governor wants decision to withdraw Cuban doctors reversed

By Peter Ochieng

A governor wants the government’s decision to withdraw the services of Cuban doctors reversed.

On Wednesday last week, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for health Nakhumicha announced that Kenya will not renew the contracts of Cuban doctors who have been working in the country since 2018.

She said she is confident that Kenyan doctors are up to the task. "As a ministry, I am confident that we will have a highly motivated workforce. Our very own healthcare professionals are committed to the cause,” she said.

That decision has rattled Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who wants that decision rescinded with immediate effect. Addressing the press in Kisumu on Tuesday afternoon, Nyong’o termed it an “irrational decision bound to plunge the whole nation into a terrible health crisis.”

He said since health is a devolved function, it would have been sensible for the county governments to be consulted before such a decision was taken by the national government.

"At the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) we have three Cuban doctors; an Oncologist, a Dermatologist and a Cardiologist. Where are we going to find replacements for these doctors? What will happen to our people with cancer cases for the example when the Cuban doctors leave without their replacements?" he paused.

"May I plead with the Kenya Kwanza government to rescind this decision immediately, discuss with the Council of Governors on what needs to be done regarding the Cuban doctors and their replacements without being in a hurry to score political bonga points.”

In 2017, the Kenyan and Cuban governments reached an agreement under which over 100 Cuban specialist doctors were hired to work in Kenyan hospitals. Kenyan doctors, on the other hand, were to train in Cuba. In 2018, the first group of Cuban doctors arrived in Nairobi from Havana.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah, expressed support for the government’s decision to terminate the contracts of Cuban doctors.

Atellah said that the funds the government was spending on employing the few foreign medics, could have been enough to put hundreds of their Kenyan counterparts in employment.

“KMPDU lauds the non-renewal of the Cuban contract. The cost of employing the 150 Cubans is enough to employ 500 Kenyan doctors. The government should now employ Kenyan doctors urgently.”