The Strike by health workers in Kakamega County has affected service delivery at Vihiga Referral Hospital after many patients thronged the facility due to ongoing strike in the neighboring county. The health practitioners had claimed that the county government had failed to remit their salaries in time among other grievances.
According to the Hospital medical superintendent Emmanuel Ayodi, more patients had visited the hospital for treatment due to the ongoing strike. “We have received many patients referred to us from Kakamega County. Many others have come by themselves,” said Ayodi.
He added that they have received more than 15 patients who have come for emergency services at the facility alone. Ayodi said the patients came from Kilingili, Butere, and Ikolomani that borders Vihiga County to seek medical services.
Ayodi further said that they are experiencing a shortage of blood since they have been depending on the blood bank from Kakamega County. However, he was quick to say that the hospital management has liaised with various schools to help in the donation of blood and asked the staffs to go an extra mile to ensure that the patients are attended to.
“We have come up with a plan with local schools to cater for blood donation. At the same time we have talked with our staff to work hard to cater for the increased number of patients,” said Ayodi. While speaking at the hospital facility in Mbale town, the medical superintendent called on pregnant women to visit public health facility for free delivery. “We are urging pregnant women to attend free delivery at public hospitals in a bid to reduce maternal deaths,” added Ayodi.
