Kenyan Doctor Who Had Not Been Paid for 5 Months Dies of Covid-19

A Kenyan doctor who had not been paid for a period of five months and had no medical cover has succumbed to Covid-19 complications.

The death of 28-year-old Dr. Stephen Mogusu was announced on Monday by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

“At the time of his death, he had not received his salary for 5 months, had no insurance & his young family left with no compensation. Too steep a price for Patriotism,” KMPDU said.

Dr. Mogusu died while undergoing treatment at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

KMPDU secretary-general Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda had earlier led an online fundraiser to help the deceased’s family clear medical expenses.

His death comes a day after the doctors’ union suspended the planned strike for 14 days to pave the way for dialogue.

The strike had been called to protest the government’s failure to addresses the medics’ concerns about safety, health insurance, and lack of adequate personal protective gear. 

Kenya had as of November 4th, lost 32 medical workers to Covid-19, with 10 of them dying within two weeks.