Drugs, equipment worth Sh1bn destroyed after fire guts ministry depot in Garissa Town
Fire fighters and wananchi put out a fire that broke out at a drugs depot in Garissa Town on December 14, 2016. Drugs and equipment said to be worth Sh1 billion were completely destroyed. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The intense fire that started at around 3pm Wednesday spread fast making it difficult to put it out.
- Even with the backup from the military, it took over six hours to put out the fire.
- Ms Hussein said the regional depot was recently stocked with supplies from Kemsa and other donations.
- She said it is even more saddening that the county and sub-county supplies had not been distributed.
Pharmaceuticals and equipment estimated to be valued at Sh1 billion have been reduced to ashes after fire gutted stores used by the Ministry of Health to keep vaccines and other drugs in Garissa.
The intense fire that started at around 3pm Wednesday spread fast making it difficult for members of the public, the county fire brigade and military fire fighters to put off before it could destroy what was inside.
County executive member for Health Hubie Hussein alleged that the fire could have been caused by an electrical fault but said investigations had been launched.
Even with the backup from the military, it took over six hours to put out the fire.
Ms Hussein said the regional depot was recently stocked with supplies and donations which included children weighing machines, beds and drugs from Unicef and the World health Organisation (WHO).
Also destroyed were stock of assorted vaccines for Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties and office equipment among them computers, furniture, refrigerators, registers and reporting tools.
Ms Hussein described the destruction as a “massive” loss to the region adding that it will take a while to restore the property and drugs.
She said it is even more saddening that the county and sub-county supplies had not been distributed.
"This fire incident is a big loss to the efforts by the county to ensure that all public health facilities have enough of drugs and to ensure they don't not run out of stock," she said.
