Rot in Kapsabet hospital exposed during midnight visit

NANDI: Patients at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital are sleeping on the floor without proper bedding.

In the maternity ward, three pregnant women were found to be sharing a bed under very unhygienic conditions.

The poor state of the county's biggest hospital is made even worse by bleeding patients who are left to sleep in their soiled clothes because the management has failed to avail a change clothes, despite the county health docket receiving Sh1.2 billion this financial year.

The sorry state of the hospital came to light when Governor Cleophas Lagat made an impromptu visit on Wednesday night and found the three women, in labour pain and sharing a single bed in a dark ward, with no running water.

The hospital's broken down lighting system has left the wards in darkness. Water taps are also dry after the supplier disconnected the pipes due to an unpaid bill running into millions of shillings.

The hospital management's failure to provide clean and suitable bed linens and blankets has forced distressed patients to sleep in the cold or with the inadequate cover of tattered sheets and bed covers.

The hospital is in a state of collapse, as the concerned county department points an accusing finger at the hospital's procurement department for corruption and flouting of procedures.

Mr Lagat, who witnessed first hand the deplorable state of the hospital, tried to call the Health Executive Matthew Rotich and County Chief Officer for Health Edward Serem to no avail, as their phones went unanswered.

The visibly angry Lagat gave members of the hospital management board and senior county health officials a warning that he would disband the board if things did not improve immediately.

"I will personally oversee the sacking of those who are not doing their part. The hospital is in deplorable state. I cannot tolerate this," he said. "The county referral hospital is filthy."

The governor accused the board and senior health officials of sabotaging his work through poor service delivery, and vowed to replace them in due course.

"Do they expect me to leave my gubernatorial duties to do jobs they were appointed and employed to do?" He posed.

The county's Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Amos Ng'etich said the referral hospital's poor state was replicated in all health facilities across the county.

"Most hospitals including Mosoriot, Nandi Hills and Kilibwoni lack basic supplies of drugs and medical equipment. Medical centres are without water and are also understaffed," he said.

Following the impromptu inspection, Lagat directed the hospital's Medical Superintendent Ishmael Aiyabei to give a detailed report on the state of the hospital within 48 hours pending further action from his office.

He also called for the resignation of top health officials. County nurses are also threatening to go on strike Monday, next week.