Nairobi News

News

KMPDU condemns abduction of Cuban doctors in Mandera


The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacist and Dentist Union (KMPDU) has condemned a Friday morning incident where two Cuban doctors were abducted and a police officer guarding them shot death by gunmen.

Terming the incident that took place at Banisa stage in Mandera County as unfortunate, KMPDU, through its Secretary General Dr Ouma Olunga, asked police to speed up the investigations and “leave no stone unturned in order to secure the safe release of the abductees and justice for the bereaved family”.”

“Security of workers and citizens remain a big challenge in certain areas of the country such as Mandera and we continue to urge Government to beef up protection for all health workers,” read part of the statement.

REMINDER

KMPDU said that the incident was a reminder to all that medical workers should never be a target for insecurity even during crises or conflicts given the humanitarian nature of the services they offer.

Police did not immediately release the names of the two Cuban doctors but records from the Ministry of Health show that Dr Assel Herera Correa and Dr Landy Rodriguez were the ones who were posted to the county.

In the daring attack that was staged a few minutes after 9am, the attackers shot dead one of the two police officers who were escorting the medical staff to their work station.

The abducted doctors are among 100 Cuban specialists who arrived in the country in June 2018.

Most local medics had fled the area in fear of terror attacks.