Busia County – Susan Nakhumicha, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary, has strongly condemned the assault on healthcare workers, asserting that such acts are intolerable and perpetrators will face legal consequences. This statement follows a disturbing incident at Port Victoria Sub County Hospital in Busia County, where a healthcare worker was verbally and physically assaulted by an individual, as shown in a video widely circulated on social media and online platforms.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nakhumicha described violence against healthcare workers as reprehensible and a threat to the healthcare system. “Healthcare workers are the backbone of our healthcare system, working tirelessly, often under challenging conditions, to ensure the well-being of all citizens,” she said. The Cabinet Secretary stressed that assaulting a healthcare worker is an attack on the entire healthcare system and the principles that govern it.
Nakhumicha commended the healthcare worker involved in the incident for their composure and professionalism, emphasizing the importance of civility in interactions with healthcare providers. She highlighted the essential role healthcare workers play in providing services to patients and the community and denounced any form of violence against them as disheartening and destructive to the healthcare infrastructure.
A 2022 study titled “Violence Against Healthcare Workers: ViSHWaS,” conducted by researchers from Aga Khan University among others, revealed concerning statistics about violence in healthcare settings in Kenya. The study, which surveyed 1,458 healthcare workers, found that nearly half (49.9%) had experienced violence, with verbal violence (80.6%) and emotional abuse (78.6%) being most common. Patients or their relatives were identified as the primary aggressors in 44.7% of cases.
CS Nakhumicha warned against the continuation of violence towards healthcare workers, advocating for respectful interactions between the public and healthcare professionals. She affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of healthcare workers across Kenya. “Violence against healthcare workers is unacceptable. Those guilty of such actions will be apprehended and face the full force of the law,” she stated, calling for a respectful and cooperative relationship between the public and healthcare providers to maintain a robust health system.
