West Pokot leaders have called on the County and national governments to intervene and rectify the deplorable health services at the Kapenguria County Referral hospital where many maternal and child deaths during delivery have been reported in the recent past.
West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio and Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto lamented the many referral cases done in the hospital and the poor service delivery because of the poor administration and the poor management.
Last year, the Senate committee on Health visited the hospital after a resident, Mr. Dennis Ruto, presented a petition to the Senate over the ailing health sector in the County. He faulted health workers in the hospital over negligence, poor services, laxity and the ailing health sector following the alarming rate of deaths and health crisis in the County.
Speaking in Kapenguria, Poghisio called on the County Government to make changes in the management of the County health department. “The hospital is good with facilities and enough health workers but there some problems facing the health sector,” he said. Poghisio said there is a need to equip the hospital with enough drugs and put enough funds in the health sector.
They accused the County government of allegedly failing to curb miserable health situation at the facility in County. “They must rectify the mess. Many patients are referred to other hospitals outside the County. We shall use the strength of the constitution to remove those in power and elect other leaders,” added Poghisio.
The sentiments were also echoed by Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto who called on area leaders to convene a meeting to address the problems at the hospital. He pointed out that the County Hospital is faced with a lot of challenges and residents cannot get better services. However, West Pokot County Health and Sanitation CEC Mr. Geoffrey Lipale has since dismissed the claims adding that the hospital is in good condition.