Mombasa healthcare in limbo as patient dies by suicide inside ward
Human rights activists led by Commission for Human Rights and Justice (CHRJ) CEO Julius Ogogoh called on the police to prosecute those found culpable of negligence
Detectives in Mombasa have launched investigations into the death of a middle-aged man who is suspected of having tragically ended his life yesterday through at the Coast General Hospital where he had been hospitalised.
The man identified as Duke Muriuki is reported to have sought treatment at the hospital five days ago following a swelling on his knee though it had not been established what the cause of the swelling was.
Reports indicate that the deceased committed the act using curtain laces and his bed to end his life after what those in the ward with him said he was unable to raise the medical bill.
Residents of Mombasa have called for swift investigations into the incident as they blamed laxity by authorities to be the cause of the incident which has been termed as sad.
They raised questions on why the medics on duty were unable to save the man’s life.
“The cause of his death has to be established. There is no way a patient can commit suicide in a hospital without doctors knowing. We have to know where the laxity is. The DCI who were here should do a proper investigation,” a resident stated.
The body of the deceased was moved to the hospital’s morgue awaiting an autopsy.
The death of the middle aged man comes after Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Arub Khatri lectured Governor Abdhulswamad Nassir over the state of health facilities in the city.
He called on the governor to ensure the medics across the various hospitals managed by the county are well managed and medics empowered.
“We cannot built hospitals when we do not have the human resource. Governor Nassir, empower the medics in the various hospitals especially those in the rural areas to ensure they deliver services well,” he stated.
He revealed that the residents are being ‘slapped’ with high bills at the hospital which he says are even higher that some of the private hospitals.
The speaker called on Nassir to ensure that the hospital which is the largest in the region has favourable bills and the rates come lower.
“There is an outcry on the high bills by the Coast General hospital. The bill is higher than even that for private hospitals. You cannot see the doctor’s handwritings but the bill is as high as Ksh 100,000. We have patients being held at the hospital for upto two months. This is really sad,” he said.
Further, the speaker raised questions on why patients going to the Makadara Hospital have minimal chances of survival as he blamed the hospital management of refusing to release bodies of deceased people over huge pending hospital and morgue bills.
Khatri called on the governor to intervene and ensure services are well in the county facilities and residents are well served instead of making endless promises to them.
“It is not easy for a patient to go to Makadara hospital and leave alive. Are we having another Shakahola there? We have spoke to you together with the elected Members of County Assembly. Kindly lets work for the residents that elected us,” he stated.
Human rights activists led by Commission for Human Rights and Justice (CHRJ) CEO Julius Ogogoh called on the police to prosecute those found culpable of negligence that led to the death of the patient.
“It is time that the county conducted a total overhaul of the hospital’s administration. Some managers have overstayed at the facility. It is sad that this happened days after Mombasa County Assembly Speaker raised concerns about the hospital,” the activist stated.
