Relief as local facility gets drugs

Matayos-based Busibwabo Dispensary has received a consignment of drugs including anti-rabies, anti-hypertensive and iron supplements for pregnant mothers among other drugs.

The facility said to be serving at least 150 patients in a day has been running without the drugs for three months now.

The donation of drugs from the Busia Sugar Industries (BSI) is a relief to the community that depends on the dispensary for treatment.

Busibwabo is prone to dog bites since residents do not take their dogs for vaccination against rabies according to the County Deputy Pharmacist Mbati Aluda.

Victims are always referred to the Busia County Referral Hospital which is about 20 kilometres away.

The nurse in charge of the hospital Pamela Akoyo disclosed that because of lack of drugs, they have been testing patients and direct them to buy over the counter medicines in chemists.

“In our store, we now have all the necessary drugs that will sustain us for a while and patients will no longer be asked to buy drugs but will get them from the facility,” said Akoyo.

She continued, “We have been conducting tests on patients and direct them to buy drugs from chemists out there based on what they are suffering from.”

Evalyne Masombo is one of the patients who have always been at the dispensary for medication but are told to buy the drugs in pharmacies.

“It is a relief to us and we hope we will not be asked again to go buy drugs in chemists like it has been the case for the last three months,” said Ms Masombo.

Dr Aluda observed that dog bites were rife in Matayos Constituency and particularly Busibwabo Ward.

He warned residents against agreeing to resolve the matter at home whenever there is a case involving a dog bite.

The firm’s Public Relations Officer Stephen Mula said the Sh500,000 donation was part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities programme.

There are over 20 dispensaries in Busia that are complete but residents are yet to start getting medical services from them.

Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation Isaac Omeri told The Standard governor Sospeter Ojaamong’s administration was committed to ensuring that the dispensaries operate.

Most of the dispensaries are manned by nurses who have to test the patient, prescribe and administer the drugs at the same time.