Plans underway to assist the late Dr Stephen Mogusus family: CAS

Plans are underway to assist the family of the late Dr Stephen Mogusu who succumbed to COVID-19 on Monday, the Health Ministry has said.

Speaking during a Press briefing on Tuesday, Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi said the death of the 28-year-old medic is ‘regrettable’.

“It’s actually heartbreaking. We have seen the concerns in the media from the union members, we have talked to friends of the daktari who passed on and we are well aware of the heart break that they are going through we are in discussions to ensure that the family is able to get the aid they require but additionally that we are able to ensure that this isn’t a situation that recurs among other healthcare workers,” said Dr. Mwangangi.

Dr. Stephen Mogusu, who had not received his salary for five months and had no health insurance, succumbed to COVID-19 complications.

He had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.

Before that, he was working at the Machakos County Isolation Centre.

CAS Mwangangi acknowledged that the government is duty-bound to take care of its healthcare workers.

“Anything that is pending particularly on the allowances we are dealing with it. We are looking at the estimates. We are trying to look at the progressions in terms of the Salary Remuneration Commission (SRC) and that is why we are asking that we continue with these deliberations,” she added.

The CAS noted there had been issues with the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) but counties have stepped up to take care of health workers.

“I am glad that just yesterday (Monday) we received a report from the Council of Governors that they are covering all their healthcare workers in terms of NHIF to ensure that workers can seek medical services when they get ill,” Dr. Mwangangi said.

She noted that discussions are underway to ensure that counties that may not have bridged the gap can do so.

“Every complaint that has been raised, that which can be dealt with today, has been dealt with. That which requires the stroke of a pen has been dealt with and that which requires deliberation and engagement with stakeholders, we are working on it,” she said.