The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum in opposition to plans by the government to host a proposed United States-funded Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base.

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In a statement released on Thursday, May 28, the union criticised the government’s lack of transparency regarding plans for the proposed facility.

“The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) is calling out the hypocrisy of the ongoing backdoor negotiations between the Government of Kenya and the United States administration regarding the establishment of an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base,” the statement read.

The union further warned that it will mobilise nationwide industrial action if the government proceeds with the arrangement without addressing the concerns raised by healthcare workers.

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“We give the government a 48-hour ultimatum to make these negotiations public. Should the Ministry of Health proceed to sign away Kenya's health security to appease foreign masters without addressing our structural healthcare shortages and staffing crises, KMPDU will mobilize nationwide industrial action,” KMPDU wrote.

The union questioned why Kenya had been selected to host the facility while countries directly bordering the outbreak zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda had reportedly not been chosen for the arrangement, accusing the government of prioritising foreign interests over Kenya’s national biosecurity and local healthcare needs.

KMPDU also demanded transparency from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the details of the negotiations and any agreements linked to the proposed quarantine centre.

According to the union, the government should explain why resources and attention are being directed towards a foreign-funded Ebola facility while public hospitals continue to face shortages of medicines and intensive care infrastructure.

The doctors’ union further stated that Kenya’s healthcare system remains understaffed, with thousands of trained doctors and healthcare workers still unemployed or working under short-term contracts.

KMPDU expressed concern that the facility could be staffed by personnel from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, potentially sidelining Kenyan healthcare workers, and demanded that the government guarantee local medical professionals are employed under fair and proper terms.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke