Staff, kit shortages still haunt county hospitals

The shortage of health workers and equipment in county hospitals has persisted despite assurances by governors.

Doctors and unionists in western Kenya have raised concerns about the situation, saying they could not handle some cases.

Kisumu branch Kenya Clinical Officers Union secretary Erick Ondieki said the Council of Governors had promised in a recent meeting to revamp the sector but nothing had been done.

“Workers under the economic stimulus package have not been paid their salaries for four months, how do you expect these people to survive?” he asked. He also said some members had been blacklisted by banks for not servicing loans yet the county was making deductions from their salaries every month.

SUPPLY OF DRUGS

“Salaries are deducted every month to pay loans and saccos contributions but no money reaches the bank,” he said.

Mr Ondieki said the supply of drugs to hospitals in Kisumu County was very poor and there was also a serious shortage of health workers.

“The county recently conducted interviews to employ health workers but due to the politics involved, it is taking too long and they might not even be employed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Busia and Homa Bay deputy governors have said they are concerned by the poor health indicators in their regions.

Busia’s Wangalwa Kizito and his Homa Bay counterpart Hamilton Orata said the residents were travelling long distances for specialised treatment and urged the government to build referral hospitals in their counties.

They said the poor facilities were also to blame for the high maternal and child mortality rates and HIV prevalence in the region.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union chairman Fredrick Oluga, however, said most counties had tried their best despite the problems.

“Apart from a few issues in Bungoma and Busia, the county bosses have tried their best,” he said.