Private healthcare institutions are readying themselves for Saba Saba, a period that typically witnesses an influx of emergency cases, by offering their services free of charge.
In the spirit of upholding constitutional rights, private hospitals across Kenya have pledged to provide free emergency medical services for the first 24 hours during the Saba Saba commemoration. This initiative, announced by the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA), underscores the importance of emergency care as a universal right and the need for unhindered access to healthcare workers during such events.
The free services will be extended to everyone injured during the protests, including pregnant mothers needing deliveries. To support these services, private hospitals have been urged to make ambulances available for patient referrals requiring specialized care. The Social Health Authority (SHA) has assured these hospitals of compensation for the emergency services provided under its Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund.
However, the delivery of these emergency services has faced significant challenges due to road blockades, traffic barricades, and police-imposed restrictions on vehicle movements in major urban centers during the protests. The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has condemned these blockades, noting that they severely hinder healthcare workers and emergency ambulances from reaching patients, creating a healthcare crisis by delaying or denying lifesaving care.
In a bid to mitigate these challenges, the KMA will set up field treatment sites in addition to the hospital services. Dr Lishenga, the RUPHA chairman, has pleaded with the police not to block ambulances and vehicles ferrying patients to hospital. He has also expressed concerns about the safety of healthcare workers, particularly in Nairobi, and has urged the police to protect designated healthcare workers who will be on standby to attend to demonstrators, bystanders, and security officers.
The Saba Saba day, celebrated annually on July 7, marks a significant day in Kenya's political history. It commemorates nation-wide protests that took place in 1990, agitating for multi-party democracy. The protests, which were met with a brutal police crackdown, marked a turning point in the country's political history and led to the eventual repeal of Section 2A of the Constitution in 1991.
This year, the organization's president, Francis Awino, has called on the public to participate in peaceful demonstrations in honor of Saba Saba day. He has emphasized that this day is not just a reflection of history, but a symbol of today's struggles, including youth unemployment, police brutality, and the high cost of living. He has asked elderly people and children to monitor events from their homes, but encouraged the youth and all able-bodied Kenyans to come out and demand what is rightfully theirs.
Dr Lishenga has also expressed hope that no serious injuries will occur during the commemorative events and has urged both the public and security agencies to exercise restraint. He has warned against police arresting patients receiving treatment and firing tear gas and live ammunition into health facilities.
In conclusion, the commitment by private hospitals to provide free emergency services during the Saba Saba commemoration is a testament to the importance of upholding constitutional rights amidst the challenges posed by protest-related disruptions. The Social Health Authority's assurance of compensation for these services and the Kenya Medical Association's efforts to ensure unhindered access to healthcare workers are crucial in ensuring that everyone injured during the protests receives the care they need within the first 24 hours.
[1] Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) [2] Social Health Authority (SHA) [3] Kenya Medical Association (KMA)
- The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) has pleaded with the government to ensure that ambulances are not blocked during the Saba Saba commemorations, as this could hinder the delivery of emergency services provided by private hospitals backed by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
- The Social Health Authority (SHA) has promised to compensate private hospitals that extend free emergency services to pregnant mothers needing deliveries and other injured individuals during the Saba Saba protests, as part of its Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund.
- Acknowledging the potential risks during the Saba Saba commemorations, Dr Lishenga, the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) chairman, has urged the police to protect healthcare workers attending to patients, demonstrators, bystanders, and security officers, emphasizing the importance of health and wellness for all.
