Medics demand vaccination against Hepatitis A, B

The Kenya Medical Practitioners’ Pharmacists and Dentists Union- KMPDU has called on the national and county governments to embark on a nationwide vaccination drive for health workers against hepatitis A and B and influenza.

Speaking to the media in Nakuru, KMPDU National chairman Samuel Oroko claimed that so far at least two doctors in Mombasa have contracted hepatitis A while tending to patients.

Oroko added that vaccinating residents of all affected areas would help arrest the spread of the diseases.

“What we have seen is laxity and poor priority from the county governments in addressing issues of healthcare in the country,” he said.

Oroko further accused the Nakuru County Government of doing little to stop the spread of Influenza, which he says has killed nearly 40 children over the last two months.

“Outbreaks like these would not be there if the government was giving free vaccines to all children below the age of 5 because we know this is the vulnerable age. As KMPDU we demand that the government immediately starts the process of vaccinating all healthcare workers so that they don’t contract the infections,” he said.

The KMPDU National chairman also condemned the governors’ mission in their upcoming devolution meeting in Meru, saying they should instead focus on matters such as health.

He opined that it would be wrong for patients to continue dying in public hospitals while leaders focused on other development projects.