Hospitals and other health centres in West Pokot County have remained deserted as the countrywide nurses’ strike enters day four. Expectant mothers have resorted to delivering at home with the help of midwives while other patients in remote areas have resorted to using traditional herbs.
A spot check at the Kapenguria County referral hospital showed that nurses are not discharging their services.
Crucial health services such as free maternity, inpatient and surgeries have been paralyzed at the hospital with only a few suffering patients in the wards as health workers desert the hospital.
Many health centres in the County have been deserted. The situation has forced patients to seek medical services in private hospitals which are now charging exorbitant fees.
At Kapenguria County Hospital, the maternity wing and the paediatric wards were completely shut down with a few volunteers left manning the empty beds in the wards.
“We don’t have patients because there are no doctors, and nurses aren’t treating patients,” said volunteer a nurse at the hospital who sought anonymity.
Relatives of patients have started discharging their loved ones from the facility to seek medical services elsewhere.
Patients who spoke to the press said that they have not received treatment. One patient Alice Ngura who is paralyzed, and has been admitted twice to the hospital has said she has not received any medication. “I came here on Monday and I have not seen any health worker,” she said.
Another patient, Ruth Chemtai, said she has not received treatment since she arrived yesterday noon at the facility.
Our investigations revealed that the County government officials were reluctant to deal with the issue leaving the responsibility for the national government.
The situation is the same at Kacheliba,Sigor and Chepareria Sub County hospitals.