The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has issued demands after the tragic death of Doctor Laban Langat, a medical officer intern at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (PGH).
In a statement, KMPDU called for investigations to determine the cause of Langat’s death.
“Dr. Langat’s lifeless body was discovered in the trenches outside the Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Wing on the morning of January 13, 2023.
The circumstances surrounding Dr. Langat’s death are shrouded in mystery, and as KMPDU, we call for an immediate and thorough investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to establish the cause of his death,” read the statement in parts.
KMPDU further directed the relevant authorities to expedite the process and ensure that justice is served swiftly.
“KMPDU is committed to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to unravel the circumstances surrounding Dr. Langat’s death and to hold accountable anyone found culpable of foul play. We will work tirelessly to ensure justice for our fallen colleague,” added the statement.
The Union condoled Langat’s family, friends, and colleagues, adding that his untimely demise is a big loss to the medical fraternity.
“The loss of a young doctor like Dr. Langat is a devastating blow to our healthcare system. He represented the future of our profession, and his tragic demise reverberates through the entire medical fraternity,” stated KMPDU.
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KMPDU Calls for Doctors’ Security
Besides, KMPDU reasoned that the incident calls for heightened security measures within medical facilities.
It demanded that county governments and hospital management prioritize the safety of healthcare workers, particularly medical interns.
“It is imperative that hospitals adhere to KMPDC and PPB rules, including providing secure housing within hospital premises for medical interns. The union will not tolerate any compromise in the security of our doctors and medical interns,” read another part of the statement.
The Union also demanded that action be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
According to KMPDU, the safety of healthcare workers is key in delivering quality patient care and maintaining the integrity of the healthcare system.
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Nakuru County Statement
According to a statement issued by Nakuru County Executive Member for Health Services, Roselyn Mungai, the medic’s body was discovered in the trenches outside the hospital’s maternity wing at about 7:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Mungai said the body had no physical injuries, adding that his personal items were also intact.
She said the deceased was identified as one of the medical officer interns who had been serving in the hospital since August 2023.
His body was later moved to the hospital morgue by the police.