Hospital in western Kenya overstretched by numerous accidents

Likuyani Sub-county Hospital admits between eight and 10 accident victims every day.

Medical Superintendent Timothy Sakwa said lack of road signs, bumps and numerous potholes along the Kitale-Eldoret road are to blame for the numerous accidents.

The Soi-Likuyani stretch, he said, is a black spot that has claimed many lives. He urged the National Transport and Safety Authority to help reverse the worrying trend.

The superintendent said it had become harder to serve other patients.

"We are treating about 10 people involved in accidents daily and some cases are serious but we always manage to save lives. We do not have the capacity to serve the ever-increasing number due to lack of enough doctors and equipment," said Sakwa.

The facility serves people from Trans Nzoia, Bungoma and Uasin Gishu counties.

Sakwa asked Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu to deploy more doctors to the facility and buy more equipment so that the public can be guaranteed proper medical services.

"It is the high time the hospital was expanded to accommodate the rising number of patients. There is enough space where structures can be built but we do not have funds to start the construction," he added.

Statistics from NTSA indicate that the number of Kenyans who have died in road accidents, during a similar period, has increased compared to last year. According to the figures, pedestrians are the biggest roads casualties.

At the same time, he said since the national government announced free maternity programme, Likuyani had received cash only once.

"We register 150 mothers monthly who come to deliver in this hospital. The delay of the funds has negatively affected us because we cannot provide better services to mothers during delivery," he said.