Patients survive on porridge as food shortage hits Embu’s Siakago hospital
A team of surgeons who performed the first caesarean section delivery at Siakago Level Four Hospital in Embu in 2015. The hospital has been facing food shortage with most patients surviving on porridge. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He said that the patients were surviving on one meal per day for the past three months.
- Dr Kariuki stated that it was unhealthy for patients, especially those from surgical theatres to take medication on an empty stomach.
- The committee said they would intervene since patients needed light foods as recommended by nutritionists.
Health workers have narrated how patients at the Siakago Level Four Hospital in Embu County have been grappling with acute food shortage, with many threatening to seek transfers to other hospitals.
Medical Superintendent Wachira Kariuki on Tuesday shocked the County Assembly Health Committee when he told them that the patients were surviving on one meal per day for the past three months.
Dr Kariuki told the committee led by nominated MCA Agatha Muthoni that in-patients were being fed on one cup of maize meal porridge.
“We used to get relief food from the sub county. But when the ward administrator left, we have not received anything,” said Dr Kariuki.
He said they made a requisition through county chief officer for Health seeking more food supplies but their budget was slashed and they were told that they were asking for too much.
“Even the suppliers are not willing to supply up to a certain level.
“When we call them, they say they are not comfortable with the price quoted by the county.
“We also don’t have local suppliers since all of them are based in Embu [Town],” Dr Kariuki told the shocked MCAs.
MEDICATION ON EMPTY STOMACH
Dr Kariuki stated that it was unhealthy for patients, especially those from surgical theatres to take medication on an empty stomach.
He said some patients who could not cope with the situation preferred to get discharged from the 30-bed hospital and go home instead of starving in the wards.
The issue of demotivated workers also arose with Mbeere North Sub-County Medical Officer of Health Beata Ruwa saying that the current nutritionist was employed in the rank of a cleaner.
Ms Mary Kiringa, the institution’s nutritionist said they lacked utensils, forcing patients to buy plastic plates and cups, which she termed as unhealthy, in order to be served with their daily rations.
She added that patients who could not take solid food had to contend with porridge since there was no equipment to blend the recommended solid foods.
Dr Kariuki said there was a problem with the supplies since all suppliers were centralised in Embu Town making supply of perishable vegetables very tricky.
The committee said they would intervene since patients needed light foods as recommended by nutritionists as opposed to the available relief maize and beans.
