KMPDU boss Atellah rallies doctors to invest in fitness, mental health as he warns of burnout crisis

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah has called for a deeper national commitment to doctor wellness, warning that the country cannot expect quality healthcare from a burned-out workforce.

Speaking Saturday night during the Daktari Wellness Association (DWA) gala dinner, Dr. Atellah praised the association for championing physical and mental resilience among medics, saying its model of structured wellness activities has become a necessary counterweight to the pressures of medical practice.

“It is an honour to be here, not just as the Secretary General of KMPDU, but as a colleague, a fellow professional, and a member of this incredible medical family,” he stated, thanking DWA for creating a space where doctors can reconnect with their own wellbeing.

He noted that although KMPDU continues to fight on the “external battlefront” for better pay, stronger Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and improved hospital resources, no policy win can fully shield doctors from the weight of their work.

“Even the most favourable CBA, the best pay increment, or the fully stocked hospital cannot entirely insulate us from the pressures of life-and-death medicine,” he said.

“The long shifts, the emotional weight of patient loss, and the sheer volume of work in an under-resourced system; these things take a silent, heavy toll on the mind and on the spirit.”

Dr. Atellah lauded the DWA’s growing movement, including its running, hiking and football clubs, describing them as a rare form of proactive self-care.

“If KMPDU is the shield that protects your professional rights, DWA is the Anchor that secures your personal resilience,” he said.

“When you are on the field, running with your colleagues, you are not just getting fit; you are leaving behind the fear, the anxiety, and the paperwork.”

He added that the community doctors build through such activities forms a buffer against burnout and helps cultivate discipline beyond the hospital setting.

“You are affirming a critical value: Self-care is not a luxury; it is a professional mandate. We cannot effectively deliver quality healthcare when our own tanks are empty,” he said.

The Daktari Wellness Association (DWA), established to promote physical fitness, mental wellbeing and reduce non-communicable diseases among healthcare workers, capped the evening with recognition of outstanding sports performers from its various clubs.

Dr. Atellah, who presided over the awards alongside DWA Secretary Dr. Chibanzi Mwachonda, also committed KMPDU to a sponsorship and an expanded partnership with the association in 2026, signalling a more formal integration of wellness into the union’s agenda.

He urged more doctors to join the movement, saying that both institutions were ultimately working toward the same goal.

“My message is simple: KMPDU and DWA are two sides of the same coin. Let us commit to working together: KMPDU fighting the macro-battles for systemic change, and DWA winning the micro-battles for personal and communal resilience,” he said.

“Thank you, DWA, for reminding us all that a strong doctor is not just one who treats well, but one who lives well. May your steps be strong, your sprints be fast, and your commitment to one another remain unbreakable.”