Patients walk for miles as drugs shortage hits health centres

Shortage of drugs in local health facilities in Nakuru is forcing patients to travel long distances in search of medication.

Patients from Maili Sita, Solai in Bahati sub-county and Naishi in Njoro said lack of medicine at their local facilities had forced them to turn to taking painkillers before seeking health services at the Rift Valley General Hospital (PGH), which is 50km away.

"The dispensaries have no medicine. We are diagnosed then referred to PGH to collect drugs. At times, we cannot afford fare to come to Nakuru," said Njeri Rurii, a resident.

Ms Rurii said they are constantly forced to deal with cases of cold and flu, especially during the current cold season because the health centres have no drugs for such cases.

"Our children are suffering from pneumonia, which needs immediate attention but we have to travel far away to seek the services," said Gichure Warui.

Mr Warui added that by the time they reach PGH, they find long queues and it takes them up to a day before they receive the services, putting the lives of their children at risk.

They also complained that the local facilities are understaffed with very few nurses to attend to them during emergencies.

"Some patients can even die awaiting treatment. The other day, a pregnant woman nearly gave birth because there was no nurse to attend to her," added Warui

They complained that Naishi dispensary in Njoro has been under construction for the past 12 years and the dispensary is still not in good shape to accommodate patients.

"The restocking of the medicine is poor and we have to seek alternative means to access drugs at an expense that is beyond our means," they said

They claimed to have on several occasions complained to the county government to intervene but their grievances fell on deaf ears.

They said their children were the most affected considering the majority of them are poor and cannot afford transport to the Rift Valley Provincial Hospital, so they let the children stay at home even when they are sick.

In the financial year 2015-2016 budget, the county government allocated Sh4.2 million to health services, about 30 per cent of the the county budget.

Health Executive Mungai Kabii said the rate of drugs consumption was high and the health centres are usually restocked quarterly.

He pointed out procurement as the main challenge in delivery of medicine, and promised to address the issue with immediate effect.

Mr Kabii said shortage of nurses within the facilities had been an issue since the Senate stopped hiring of nurses.

He added that the health department was seeking a go-ahead to employ two nurses and one casual in every health centre.