United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party-nominated Senator Raphael Chimera has alleged that his mother was unable to access X-ray services at a county hospital.
In a public statement dated June 23, the nominated Senator raised concern about how the gaps in service delivery will be bridged when those in charge disregard the public.
Raphael Chimera further criticized what he described as declining standards of service delivery and an apparent lack of accountability among some public health officials.
The public statement from Chimera followed a personal encounter at a county hospital where his mother was denied access to X-ray services.
Instead of receiving the standard medical attention, Chimera was met with insults from the doctor, who termed him a drunkard.
The doctor proceeded to ask that the nominated senator seek medical attention from Nairobi Hospital.
“When you constructively point out teething gaps in matters service delivery, the very persons tasked with fixing our healthcare end up insulting you and calling you ‘Mlevi’ and being asked to treat my mother in Nairobi Hospital,” Raphael Chimera stated.
In a conversation as observed by the Kenya Times, the doctor alleged to have denied provision of the X-ray service to the senator’s mother stated that they could not deal with a drunkard.
The doctor further added that the senator had implied that the hospital lacked X-ray services and he should therefore take his mother to Nairobi Hospital.
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Raphael Chimera on the Doctor
Chimera has taken to his social media platform, responding to the doctor who labeled him as a drunk.
In his response, Chimera has explained that he partakes in wine, citing biblical references the those who consume wine, adding that he also consumes super fine Cognac that the doctor could not possibly imagine exists.
Regarding the mother being sent to Nairobi Hospital for medical care, the nominated senator clarified that his mother has always had the best doctors and medical care.
He further clarified that the mother would indeed seek X-ray services from Nairobi Hospital as suggested by the doctor during their encounter.
Additionally, Chimera argued that, because he trusts local doctors, after the mother undergoes the X-ray, she would return to her doctor at Msambweni Hospital with the results.
He, however, questioned whether those who are financially stable can get their X-ray at the Nairobi Hospital; what would happen to those who cannot afford the charges in the private hospitals or the transport cost.
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Public Concern on Health Care System
Halima Mwatela, chairperson of the Kwale County Biashara Revolving Fund, has supported the nominated senator, emphasizing that no member of the public should be denied medical attention.
However, she disapproved of how Raphael Chimera approached the matter, clarifying that Kwale Hospital and Msambweni Referral Hospital have, over the years, served thousands of the public and continue to provide critical services.
Further, she called out that, as a nominated senator, Chimera should have fulfilled his role as an oversight official by investigating the reason for the denial of the X-ray service and providing a comprehensive guide to the solution.
“Honorable Senator, I share your concern about any patient who is unable to access essential services such as an X-ray. No citizen should be turned away when they need urgent medical attention. However, I am also disappointed by your framing of the issue. Kwale Hospital and Msambweni Referral Hospital have, over the years, served thousands of wananchi and continue to provide many critical services. If there is a breakdown in a specific service, then it deserves investigation based on facts rather than an immediate suggestion of sabotage or incompetence,” Halima Mwatela commented.
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