West Pokot leaders have raised concerns over the state of health affairs at the Kapenguria County hospital and other health centers in the County. This follows the deaths of three people who have perished under unclear circumstances, believed to result from, negligence, laxity, delays and a lack of enough drugs coupled with poor service delivery.
In one case, a young man, Timothy Mnangat Loitangor died after being bitten by a snake this week. Last week, Mr. Robert Nang’iro died after the doctor allegedly went missing for four hours while Ms Pauline Chepatarus Lotialatum died after she was left on the road by the driver of the County ambulance and nurses while being
transferred to Kitale County hospital. She took a boda boda and later died when giving birth. Last year, at least 39 maternal deaths were reported in County.
West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio has called on the County and national governments to intervene and rectify the deplorable condition of health services.
He said there has been a public outcry due to insufficient drugs in level 3 and 4 hospitals in the County citing that patients are suffering for not getting adequate services from the facilities.
and put enough funds in the health sector. He added that the health workers should be given encouragement so that they deliver better services.
Kapenguria Member of parliament Samuel Moroto lamented due to the many referral cases done at the County hospital and poor service delivery because of the poor administration and management .
He said that the hospital has enough health workers but
there is still a lack of essential facilities. “Kapenguria County hospital has become a death bed and now people…How can a doctor go missing for 4 hours, thus, letting a patient die?” he posed, “They removed qualified doctors on political grounds.”
He has recommended that the health sector should be managed by the national government if the County has failed in its mandate. He further called on the County government to improve the health services and make changes in the management and leadership of the County health department.
On his part, Sigor Member of Parliament Peter Lochakapong called on the County government to speed up the opening of the ICU unit and provide the CT scan
service at Kapenguria hospital which is currently missing. However, West Pokot County Health and Sanitation CEC Mr. Geoffrey Lipale said that hospital is in good condition. “I challenge them to visit the hospital and see for themselves. They should not bank on hearsay.”