Health Crisis: The Sick Say Private Hospitals Are Too Costly

Due to the current ongoing doctors’ strike in the country, herbalists have managed to expand their business as the number of clients has doubled  and in some cases even tripled the normal number. Initially, herbalists make a billing as a number of people needing their services increase. Kenya is a developing country, hence poverty is one of our biggest challenges. Now patients turn to herbal medicines which they consider cheap and effective’ according to those who have used them. This is because the private hospitals are very costly for a common citizen. Patients in Western Kenyan counties (states) are turning to herbalists as the strike by doctors continues to paralyse services in hospitals country-wide. A number of posters have been erected in various locations to announce the services especially in Kisumu and Kisii.

Ms. Omuode who treats ailments such as malaria, typhoid, cysts and ear & nose problems among others since the strike began on December 5th. There has been an increase in the number of people seeking services. Patients come from as far as Mombasa and Nairobi seeking medical attention. “I am therefore taking in twice as many patients as I used to,” she stated, attributing  the increase to the doctors’ strike. The herbalists assure the patients of their effectiveness of their services by giving their own words, “I have also been able to treat malaria patients successfully and I have also cured patients suffering from other ailments that are normally treated in hospitals!”

Where are we heading to with all these herbal treatments? What if they are not legal? What as a generation are we to expect moving forward? Because of some of these herbal practices, some people have lost their lives. This is an election year and these are the people who could bring change to our country. Our government of Kenya should take action on working out a deal with the doctors rather than concentrating so much on political campaigns.