NAIROBI, Kenya- The Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death of Dr. Desree Moraa, a young medical intern who allegedly took her own life over the weekend.
Dr. Moraa, who was serving her internship at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital, was discovered Sunday night on the balcony of her apartment in what police suspect was a case of suicide.
According to the authorities, her body was found hanging from a rope tied around her neck.
In a statement on Tuesday, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Devji Atellah attributed her death to overwhelming work pressures compounded by unsafe and inhumane working conditions.
“Dr. Moraa was working under very difficult, dangerous, and indecent conditions that did not guarantee her safety and overall well-being,” Atellah lamented.
He decried Kenya’s healthcare system as fundamentally flawed, citing it as a breeding ground for such tragedies.
“Her death is a glaring manifestation of our broken healthcare system that thrives on the unpaid and underpaid labor of young doctors while disregarding their safety and basic human rights,” he said.
Atellah pointed to longstanding structural failures in the country’s health sector, calling the system “dangerous” and warning that without reform, more lives could be lost.
He also extended his condolences to Dr. Moraa’s family, friends, and colleagues, stressing the urgent need to improve doctors’ working environments across the country.
“Workplaces should never make anyone feel isolated and desperate to the point of believing there is no way out,” he emphasized. “We owe it to Dr. Moraa and all healthcare workers to demand work environments that prioritize mental health, ensure timely and fair compensation, and hold accountable those who perpetuate abuse.”
Dr. Moraa, 27, had been living alone on the fourth floor of an apartment building where her body was discovered.
A suicide note found at the scene hinted at the possible motive behind her death, with references to stress and overwork.
Colleagues confirmed that she often endured grueling shifts, some lasting up to 36 hours, leaving her physically and emotionally drained.
While the exact circumstances surrounding her tragic death are still under investigation, Dr. Moraa’s passing has reignited calls for systemic change to protect the country’s healthcare workers from burnout, exploitation, and preventable harm.
Dr. Moraa, who was serving her internship at Gatundu Level 5 Hospital, was discovered Sunday night on the balcony of her apartment in what police suspect was a case of suicide.
According to the authorities, her body was found hanging from a rope tied around her neck.
In a statement on Tuesday, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Devji Atellah attributed her death to overwhelming work pressures compounded by unsafe and inhumane working conditions.
“Dr. Moraa was working under very difficult, dangerous, and indecent conditions that did not guarantee her safety and overall well-being,” Atellah lamented.
He decried Kenya’s healthcare system as fundamentally flawed, citing it as a breeding ground for such tragedies.
“Her death is a glaring manifestation of our broken healthcare system that thrives on the unpaid and underpaid labor of young doctors while disregarding their safety and basic human rights,” he said.
Atellah pointed to longstanding structural failures in the country’s health sector, calling the system “dangerous” and warning that without reform, more lives could be lost.
He also extended his condolences to Dr. Moraa’s family, friends, and colleagues, stressing the urgent need to improve doctors’ working environments across the country.
“Workplaces should never make anyone feel isolated and desperate to the point of believing there is no way out,” he emphasized. “We owe it to Dr. Moraa and all healthcare workers to demand work environments that prioritize mental health, ensure timely and fair compensation, and hold accountable those who perpetuate abuse.”
Dr. Moraa, 27, had been living alone on the fourth floor of an apartment building where her body was discovered.
A suicide note found at the scene hinted at the possible motive behind her death, with references to stress and overwork.
Colleagues confirmed that she often endured grueling shifts, some lasting up to 36 hours, leaving her physically and emotionally drained.
While the exact circumstances surrounding her tragic death are still under investigation, Dr. Moraa’s passing has reignited calls for systemic change to protect the country’s healthcare workers from burnout, exploitation, and preventable harm.
