KMPDU decries medics’ unsafe working conditions after intern’s tragic death

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has called for enhanced working conditions for healthcare workers in the wake of the tragic death of Dr Desree Moraa Obwogi.

Obwogi, an intern at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital, was found dead on Sunday night at her balcony, with a rope around her neck.

A suicide note discovered next to her body cited a stressful work environment and personal challenges as contributing factors to her death.

In a statement released on Tuesday, KMPDU Secretary-General Davji Atellah emphasised the need for a healthcare system that prioritises the mental well-being of workers and ensures fair compensation to prevent exploitation.

“Dr Moraa’s death is a sad but glaring manifestation of our country’s broken healthcare system that feeds on the unpaid and underpaid labour of young doctors and continues to undermine their safety and basic human rights,” Atellah said.

He expressed deep condolences for Obwogi's untimely passing, describing her as a young, dedicated doctor whose life was cut short under “very difficult, dangerous, and indecent conditions that did not guarantee her safety and overall well-being”.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends, and colleagues who will be forever impacted by this unimaginable loss,” he said.

He noted that a workplace should not make workers feel so isolated and desperate that they believe there is no way out.

He criticised the healthcare system, insisting it failed Obwogi and many others before her, describing it as a dangerous structure that endangers the lives of healthcare workers.

He called for collective action against what he termed as "modern-day slavery", challenging the systemic failures that lead to such tragedies.

“It is a dangerous system that will continue to wreak havoc on the lives of healthcare workers. We must together resist it. We must resist this modern-day slavery and challenge the embedded structural failures that lead to such tragedies. We owe it to Dr Moraa and every healthcare worker in this country to demand work environments that prioritise workers' mental well-being, ensure timely and fair compensation, and hold accountable those who perpetuate abuse and exploitation,” Atellah said.