Desperate residents ask Orengo to resuscitate ailing health facilities

A new mortuary at the Bondo Sub-County Hospital. Some residents say priority should be on saving lives. [Courtesy]

When it was built more than a decade ago, residents of Anyanga, Uhanya and Nyenye beaches breathed a sigh of relief. They were convinced that Nyenye-Misori Dispensary would save them from walking long distances to seek treatment.

But the facility meant to serve a population of about 5,000 remains a shell of its former self. Even water is supplied by local vendors, and some patients bring their own.

During a recent upgrade of 27 dispensaries to health centres, Nyenye-Misori missed the list despite meeting the population requirement.

Speaking to The Standard on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, a staff said the upgrade would have helped in improving infrastructure and staffing.

Built in a waterlogged area, access is a challenge whenever it rains.

Out of the four buildings, area Public Health Officer Everlyne Wesonga confirmed that three have been condemned but are still being used.

“We’ve raised the matter to both the previous and current county administrations but nothing has been done,” says the staff.

Worse enough, medical waste and other disposal materials including placentas are dumped in the only pit latrine available.

For laboratory services, patients are referred to other facilities.

The story is the same at the Ulungo Dispensary in the neighbouring Yimbo East Ward.

The facility that serves the Bondo Teachers Training College, Bar Kanyango Secondary School, Bondo Kwach Market and 17 villages is crying for resuscitation.

The dispensary, built in 1987 as community project initiated by Assistant Chief Joseph Rajema, is on the verge of closure.

According to Rajema, the facility was taken over by the government in 1994 and the first nurse posted after the launch by Nyanza Provincial Commissioner Joseph Kaguthi.

For the locals, this meant an access to improved healthcare services.

However, more than three decades later, residents are forced to seek services in Usigu or Got-Agulu – more than seven kilometres away.

With an abandoned out-patient unit following bats infestation, patients are now using the maternity wing, with public outcry over the shortage of essential drugs and medical workers.

During a recent meeting with Governor James Orengo, the locals asked him to intervene.

“I have heard your cries and I will ensure that my team visits to check on things that should be done at the facility,” Orengo assured them.

At the Mbeka Dispensary in Bondo, the county government has only posted staff.

A recent report by the Auditor General on the status of Level Four hospitals painted a grim picture. According to the report, Uyawi Sub-County Hospital in Bondo has a bed capacity of 17 instead of the required 150 as per the health policy guidelines.

It has no medical officers, anesthesiologists, general surgeons, gynecologists, pediatricians and radiologists.

In addition, the facility lacks basic equipment like incubators, cots, a resuscitation in-theatre, functional ICU beds and a renal unit.

Orengo’s administration has been criticised for building a mortuary at the Bondo Sub-County Hospital.

“Even though a modern mortuary is important, we must focus on saving lives first,” said Peter Oloo.

Governor Orengo is, however, said he has hired 180 health workers to address the human resource gap. “We have mapped out, equipped and operationalised 19 rural health facilities with an aim of enhancing access to quality health care services.”

Health CEC Martin K’Onyango said they were committed to achieving the World Health Organisation standard of three kilometre radius of access to a health facility in all the sub-counties.