Written by Joseph Amunya Otieno 2012-06-02 16:04:00 Read 524 Times

Medical services at Lugari District Hospital were subject of discussion during celebrations to mark Madaraka Day in Lugari district on Friday.

Irate residents led by an opinion leader Mr. Peter Malucho asked the government to quickly intervene and rescue the hospital from collapsing important health services by removing the current Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ekal Eregai whom they accused of among other things incompetence and negligence.

Malucho decried poor services offered by the health facility, lamenting that due to lack of essential drugs most patients were being referred to Webuye District and Moi and Teaching and Referral Hospitals even for minor diseases such as malaria.

“We fail to understand why most of our patients are either asked to buy drugs from chemists or are referred to hospitals in Webuye or Eldoret for further treatment,” said Malucho.

The residents’ calls were supported by all civic leaders from the district who were present at the celebration led by Lugari county council chairperson Mr. David Amaswache.

Addressing the charged crowd, a nominated councilor Mr. Newton Muyira Werengai warned that all civic leaders in the district will lead area residents into a peaceful demonstration for ejecting out office the MOH if the government reneges on their demands.

“We are giving the government one week from now to do something on this issue, failure to which we will marshal area residents into a peaceful demonstration and evict Dr Eregai out of office,” said Werengai.

Werengai further blamed the embattled health officer for embezzling funds meant for polio campaign, hence making the district to be rated among the worst in terms of last year’s polio campaigns.

The outspoken civic leader went on to castigate the MOH for failing to service the hospital’s ambulance, which he claimed was at the moment immobile and unable to provide emergency services to needy patients.

On his part, Amaswache accused the MOH of undermining his juniors, creating a disconnection between his office and the rest of workers and thus jeopardizing medical services to clients.

The council boss amused wananchi when he decided to say a short prayer asking the Almighty to touch Eregai’s soul and give him a human heart.

Responding to the residents’ claims at Lumakanda Township grounds, area acting District Commissioner Mr. Richard Ajwang appealed for calmness while the government handled the issue.

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