Members of the Migori County Assembly Committee on Health Services, have faulted the Health Department, for poor service delivery at the County’s Referral Hospital.
The 12-member Committee made an impromptu visit to the Level Four facility, following public outcry on mistreatment by the medical staff, under-staffing, and water shortages.
Health Committee’s Chairperson, George Omamba, said that the breakdown of oxygen machines, coupled with negligence and under-staffing, has seen the Referral Hospital, admit few patients.
Omambo noted that the county’s oxygen plant which was installed four years ago, has since stopped operating with patients in need of intensive care being referred to the neighbouring counties.
On the issues of under-staffing, the Committee requested the County Health Department to do proposals for the committee to present the budget on the floor of the House for planning purposes.
The Referral Hospital has also been experiencing water shortages in recent months with at least 100,000 liters of water daily needed for effective and smooth operations of the facility.
Omamba asked the Department of Health and water to work together, to ensure the precious commodity is available to the facility all the time.
The Committee also took note of the misappropriation of funds, saying millions of cash and drugs are lost through pilferage. The Health Committee proposed the need to automate revenue collection at the health finance Department, to reduce theft and corruption.
The committee chair also asked the health department to open the procurement process to ensure that the level four facility has the required medical amenities.
Migori County Executive Committee Member (CECMs)-In-Charge of Health, Julius Nyerere, however, downplayed the allegations, saying the new Administration is barely three months in office and needed more time to restructure the Administration.
Nyerere emphasized that already the County Government is in the process of doing procurement, to ensure drugs and other health necessities are available.
“We will make the Referral and any other health facilities across the County, as efficient as possible for patients,” assured Nyerere.