Kenyan doctors are ignoring calls to return to work to deal with the wave of pneumonia

Last Monday, the Mombasa County government ordered doctors and clinic officials who are on leave and those who are continuing their national strike to return to work immediately, to deal with the outbreak of pneumonia among children.

However, the heads of the doctors' union in Kenya Coast branch have rejected the call, saying the strike was called by their national office.

Pediatricians in Mombasa County say that private hospitals have been treating children suffering from pneumonia while most of them are admitted to intensive care units following the deterioration of their health.

According to reports, the increase in the number of these patients is increasingly worrying health officials in the county.

This situation is getting worse due to the national strike of doctors in Kenya.

A pediatrician at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa, Dr. Hemed Twahir, said that in the past month, they have been suffering from pneumonia and driving among children. "We have had to put them in the intensive care unit because of their deteriorating health," said Dr. Twahir.

The doctor urged parents to ensure that children wash their hands with soap frequently, drink clean boiled water or are given medicine.

Doctors in Kenya have stopped providing emergency services in government hospitals, thus plunging the health system into a bigger crisis.

The Union of Doctors, Pharmacists and Dentists in Kenya (KMPDU) has taken the decision to suspend emergency services as the doctors asked the government to address their complaints especially regarding the delay in hiring health workers.