Health officials shut down damaged hospital in Taita-Taveta County

The county assembly minority leader, Ronald Sagurani, in whose area the facility is located, said more than 1,000 people who depended on the dispensary would be affected.

Malukiloriti dispensary in Taveta sub-county was constructed by the former county administration at a cost of more than Sh9 million.

The county executive committee member for health, Frank Mwangemi, said the dispensary was closed on Friday after the walls developed large cracks.

“We have closed down the health facility after we found that it was not fit for habitation. The buildings are faulty, with cracks on the walls. We have transferred the staff as we wait for assessment and advice from the structural engineer,” said Dr Mwangemi.

The county assembly minority leader, Ronald Sagurani, in whose area the facility is located, said more than 1,000 people who depended on the dispensary would be affected.

He said the buildings were condemned because of poor workmanship.

WATER PATHWAYS

“The facility is built on water pathways and the area is prone to flash floods from Mount Kilimanjaro," he said.

County assembly's health services committee chairman, Patel Mng’ambwa, said the four main hospitals in the region - Voi, Mwatate, Taveta, and Wesu - lacked proper infrastructure, personnel, and drugs.

“We are preparing a comprehensive report about the status of the health facilities, with recommendations to be handed over to the governor for action. But currently the status of the public health facilities is poor,” he said.

In other news, the county has announced plans to establish an oxygen generation plant at the Voi County Referral Hospital. The plant will supply gas to other health facilities in the region.

The hospital, located along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, serves patients from as far as Mtito Andei.