Vanessa Ogema, the lady captured in a viral video harassing medics at the Port Victoria Hospital in Busia County has surrendered herself to the police.
On Sunday, January 7, afternoon, Ogema entered Busia Police Station in the company of three men for processing.
At the time, her face was covered with a surgical mask and a gray hoodie which concealed her face from cameras and members of the public at the station.
Her submission came on the back of sustained pressure from various quarters calling for the relevant authorities to take action against her.
In the video that went viral across social media platforms, Ogema was seen hurling insults at staff members in the hospital while demanding attention for a patient she had brought.
Oblivious that her tirade was being recorded, the lady went on threatening the staff members that she would report them to a senior government official from the county.
However, the medics stood their ground and insisted that they had to follow the existing rules in attending to patients.
Consequently, the video drew condemnation with entities including the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) demanding immediate action.
Led by its Secretary General Davji Atellah, healthcare workers under the union voiced their concerns on the incident noting that it was immoral and an impediment to their safety.
Kenyans criticize Vanessa Ogema
Subsequently, workers at the Port Victoria Hospital vowed to down their tools until appropriate action was taken.
“The safety of healthcare workers is threatened in such facilities. The perpetrators of this heinous act should be brought to book urgently,” KMPDU Secretary General commented.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha also commented on the incident amid uproar from Kenyans on social media.
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In a statement, Nakhumicha said, “Acts of violence against our healthcare workers are not only reprehensible but intolerable.”
“Healthcare workers deserve our utmost respect as they are the backbone of our healthcare system. They work tirelessly – sometimes under challenging conditions to ensure the well-being of all citizens across different hospital levels.”
On his part, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba who had been roped to the incident distanced himself from the lady and affirmed that the claims advanced in the video did not align with his beliefs about public service.
