A section of patients at the Lugari District Hospital and (inset) the Lugari District Medical Officer of Health Mr. Ekal Eregae who is being accused of poor services offered at the Lugari district Hospital. [PHOTO|Joseph . A. Otieno|West Fm]

Lugari County Council civic leaders have threatened to lead area residents and health worker in a demonstration over what they have termed as gross mismanagement at the Lugari district hospital.

There have been numerous complaints from members of the public and some workers at the hospital blaming  the hospital’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ekal Eragae for what they claim as poor services offered to members of public by the facility.

Speaking to West FM the councillors claimed to have received numerous complaints from area residents and a section of health workers in the hospital leveled against the hospital’s management ranging from misuse of funds, workers’ absenteeism to lack of essential drugs.

“As a council we shall not sit back and watch as our people suffer due to greed and negligence on part of civil servants,” said the council chairperson David Amaswache.

Flanked by several councilors, Amaswache said that the council will marshal area residents into a peaceful demonstration next week against the MoH whom they want transferred from the district.

“If the government shall not have removed the MoH by Monday 28th May, then we will have no other option other than peacefully ejecting him from office,” warned Amaswache.

However, when reached on phone, Dr. Eregai dismissed the allegations and accused some of his colleagues of consistently working with the council to undermine him since July last year when he reported to the hospital.

He boldly stated that he was ready to face the law if found with any mistake.

A spot check by West FM however revealed that the hospital was facing a serious problem in shortage of essential drugs with many patients being referred to the local chemists.