City medical centres face drugs crises

By NGARI GICHUKI and ISSAC MESO

Nairobi, Kenya: A spot check at health facilities in Nairobi County revealed a sorry situation.

A visit by The Standard to Baba Dogo Health Centre found many patients, mostly mothers with their children, in the waiting area queuing to see a doctor.

From the number of patients referred to other institutions for critical service, we learnt that the facility doesn’t have enough drugs and equipment.

The health centre is also understaffed, leading to slow service delivery.

State of disrepair

At Kayole II Sub-District Hospital, the situation is also bad. The structures are in a state of disrepair.

The hospital also lacks equipment as most patients are referred to Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Embakasi Division.

A visit to Kenyatta National Hospital accident and casualty wing revealed a busy and overstretched facility with hundreds of Kenyans trooping in by the minute.

According to Simon Ithai, the corporate affairs and communication manager, the hospital has started off initiatives such as the public-private partnership it has with Safaricom that has seen the acquisition of beds and machines to aid in the admission of all the critically ill.

The same situation of congestion and overstretched resources was witnessed at Mbagathi and Pumwani hospitals.

At Mbagathi, the congestion crisis remains despite the County Government of Nairobi having opened a new maternity ward within the hospital premises.

The Jubilee Government had promised to focus on preventive healthcare since it is less expensive.

The recent strike by health workers points to the need for a comprehensive health policy to cater for all Kenyans regardless of their status.