Leased Sh4m anaesthesia machine stolen at Chuka hospital
An anaesthesia machine. This particular machine is a "Flow-I" model, manufactured by Maquet, a division of Getinge Group, Getinge, Sweden. An anaesthesia machine worth Sh4 million was stolen on April 27, 2016 from Chuka Level Five Hospital. PHOTO | WIKIPEDIA
What you need to know:
Medical superintendent Elijah Kameti told the Nation that the machine was stolen on Wednesday from the newly built maternity theatre ward.
County Health Chief Officer Walter Mugambi said workers who were on duty on Wednesday night have recorded statements with police.
Dr Mugambi said they suspect the theft was done by a hospital employee or in connivance with one.
Police in Tharaka-Nithi County are investigating the theft of a Sh4 million anaesthesia machine from Chuka Level Five Hospital.
The machine is one of those leased to the hospital by the national government under a Sh38 billion medical scheme.
Medical superintendent Elijah Kameti told the Nation that the machine was stolen on Wednesday from the newly built maternity theatre ward.
“We realized that it had been stolen on Thursday morning,” said Dr Kameti.
County Health Chief Officer Walter Mugambi said workers on duty on Wednesday night have recorded statements with police.
Dr Mugambi said they suspect a hospital employee is behind the theft or connived with someone else to steal the device.
He said the gadget could have been taken out of the hospital through the mortuary gate.
“All the mortuary attendants, biomedical service workers, watchmen and everyone who was on duty that night has recorded a statement with police,” added Dr Mugambi.
The health officer said the machine requires a high level of expertise to operate and that whoever stole or had it stolen must be a knowledgeable person who knows exactly where it would be used.
Addressing journalists in Chogoria Town on Sunday, Tharaka-Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa called for a quick probe, saying the theft had sabotaged his efforts to improve the health sector.
The county boss said he had been facing opposition from some political leaders from the region whom he accused of trying to undermine his government.
“How come this machine was stolen just a day after it was installed in the newly constructed maternity theatre and other equipment are intact?” wondered the governor.
He noted that the newly built theatre and the anaesthesia machine were to be commissioned later this week.
“The police have assured me that they are following a lead and soon the culprits will be brought to book,” he said.
Mr Ragwa called on the workers and the public to refrain from being misused by people with ill motives.
“Last week machines were interfered with by suspected hospital workers at the Meru Referral Hospital just to tarnish the leadership of Governor Peter Munya and this is exactly what has happened in Tharaka-Nithi,” said Mr Ragwa.
Nominated MCAs Stephaninah Ciamati, Ruth Karea and James Mutembei visited the hospital on Saturday and asked the county government to account for the missing machine.
Ms Ciamati said the machine could have been taken to another hospital.
