TELLINGLY, VILIFYING DOCTORS SMACKS OF RULING ELITE'S CARELESSNESS

Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi

Definitely a working nation should be graded by looking at, and examining the manner in which it treats the sick, especially the poor, and those who devote their lives and expertise to take care of them. 

The Kenyan health care experiment offers us a platform to unmask the complexities in how we relate, as a nation, and respond to the needs and cries of the collectives. The lamentations of the poor can be summarized in two categories.

First, our interaction with the poor and/or those close to them has come to be associated in many Kenyan minds with that brand of cheap, demagogic and outmoded gesture which our leaders display with  total absence of any critical reflection and self-examination when they declare to us, the masses, 'that we are together and sailing in the same boat.' 

They correctly tell us that the time has come when we must assume responsibility for our problems and seek and model ways through which we can deflect the temptation to blame other people for our wrongdoings. Ironically, this is far from them. 

For them responsibility only exists ‘out there’. To subject them to this is akin to reducing their stature and sinking their careers.

Unfortunately, this has metamorphosized into a national philosophy of 'deny and pass it to the next in line. Never stand and take the bullet.'

But the message is loud and clear: our aspirations of becoming a strong, democratic and people-centric nation cannot be premised on this lopsided philosophy. We must change or else change will change us.

Secondly, it must sink in our minds that the forces of and the buildup of frustration of those we willfully and falsely think are powerless and incapable of effecting real transformation will, at the end of the day, determine the future of our nation.

For no happiness shall reign if the wider majority are frustrated and treated like objects - and not true children - of this great nation.

Nothing demonstrates this more than the manner in which we think of and deal with our health care workers. We have seen cases where government top functionaries disregard some simple logic and understanding of the dynamics of the people. Instead of responding to the legitimate demands of health practitioners, they have resorted to issuing threats and inciting the public against these noble and selfless servants of the poor.

This attitude and action fit well in Paulo Freire's (in his book ‘The Pedagogy Of Oppressed’) description of a true transformation of the people. He asserts, "Revolutionary praxis must stand opposed to the praxis of the dominant elites, for they are by nature antithetical. Revolutionary praxis cannot tolerate the absurd dichotomy in which the praxis of the people is merely that of following the decisions of the leaders - a dichotomy reflecting the prescriptive methods of dominant elites."

We may succeed, in the short-term, to set the public against doctors but it must be remembered that the collective power of the same public knows no direction. It will definitely strike back and seek answers for the underlying questions impeding its collective growth and happiness.

But the good message is rightly embodied in this collective power of the people, and especially when exercised directly. It is what we need as a nation to institutionalize the basic tenets of governance: Listening and providing solutions to challenges afflicting the public. Not running away from the people.

Surely, health-care workers have a reason to demand for better pay and working conditions. Their dedication stands tall to explain the far they have reached to offer services in a system as pervasive and life-threatening as Kenya's health system. 

How else can we reward their good work than listening to their pleas, (of course with a view to offering solutions), and improving the conditions of our hospitals?

To believe that public hospitals are only for those with 'no means' to pay for private services smacks of carelessness and poor reading of history. You can run away from public hospitals and seek refuge in privately-owned ones but you cannot hide from the cries and frustrations of those in your neighborhood frequenting to and depending on public utilities.

Reactionary moves are no more than a demonstration of how shallow we reflect and look at things.

Where on earth can one intimidate health workers? Do we really decipher what it takes to have a single well-trained doctor? 

With such attitude we risk training and investing in our doctors for other forward-thinking people to come for them. Brain-drain is first nurtured by how we treat our professionals.

We must rethink our strategies. Don’t vilify the doctors, heed their calls and save the poor.

A sick nation is that which rubbishes the calls of its workers. It is time we changed this for tangible inclusiveness to be felt by all.

Lemukol Ng'asike is an Architect. Twitter:  @mlemukol.  Email:  lemoseh89@gmail.com.