Leaders from West Pokot County have decried the poor health services in Kapenguria County referral Hospital. They accused the County government of deplorable health situation at the hospital. This comes after some patients allegedly died in the hospital on Thursday. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company disconnected the power for the whole day over unpaid debts of close to one million shillings.
A snap survey at the hospital showed that health practitioners had difficulties when it came to discharging their duties as some patients were referred to Ortum Mission hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Eldoret.
Services in the theatre, nurseries and X-ray machines, oxygen concentration services and laboratory operations came to a halt.
Speaking to the press in Kapenguria member of parliament Samuel Moroto and former Kapenguria Member of parliament Rev. Julius Murgor said there aren’t enough drugs in the hospital.
The leaders said that services were paralyzed in the hospital following the electricity problem that led to the loss of lives.
The leaders faulted the Deputy Governor Dr. Nicholas Atudonyang, who also doubles up as the Health CEC for Health and Sanitation in the County for spending most o his time away from the County and missing vital work time.
“He must relinquish the position if he knows that he can’t stay in Kenya and serve the residents,” said Moroto.
Moroto also called on the County government to involve all leaders and stakeholders to address health challenges in the hospital.
However, the County Health Chief Officer Ibrahim Longolomoi dismissed the leaders’ claims saying the County has done tremendous efforts to improve the health services within the County.
“It was wicked for Kenya Power Company to disconnect electricity, children in nurseries suffered, and patients who were referred from Alale Hospital 140 kilometres away got no treatment,” he said.
Longolomoi said that power was reconnected and everything was okay in the hospital. “We shall have aback up generator in place and ensure that it is well serviced,” he said He said that they had put in place mechanisms to improve health services in the County.