Governor Ranguma waives bill for 20 patients

Governor Jack Ranguma and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital’s medical superintendent Juliana Otieno at the facility yesterday. Governor Ranguma said he waived the bills in order to create space for more patients to get treatment at the hospital. (PHOTO: MAUREEN ODIWUOR/ STANDARD)

More than 20 patients at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital have had their bills waived.

The patients had been detained for a long time at the facility for failing to raise the money amounting to Sh411,000.

Touring the facility yesterday, Governor Ranguma said he waived the bills in order to create space for more patients to get treatment at the hospital.

“I visited the hospital to meet doctors we brought from the US to conduct fistula and eye surgeries. That is when I realised there were many people detained at the facility for lack of money to pay bills,” he said.
He said most of those waived were from other counties. The county government has an allocation of waiver for local patients who can not afford to pay bills.

“As the governor, I decided to intervene. There are many people from other counties who have been in the hospital for way too long. I had to use the executive authority to ensure they leave the hospital,” he said.

Ranguma had paid a visit to the facility to meet a team of doctors from Los Angeles, US who are volunteering to treat over 300 patients.

The team comprising 15 doctors and surgeons intend to provide free surgeries to patients especially those suffering from fistula and eye complications.

Boda Boda accidents

“So far, many people have undergone surgery. There are only two people with complications. The doctors say the equipment that can treat them is not found in the country, however, they offered to get people who can treat them in the US,” Ranguma said.

Due to many boda boda accidents, he noticed there were many orthopedic cases at the facility which had forced them to extend to another ward. “I have made a conscious decision to establish an orthopedic and trauma centre to help these cases. I understand there are plates that can be implanted in the body to help in quick healing of bones. They are not incorporated in our everyday treatment plan. They have to be sourced and hence many people visit private facilities for the services. Many people are dying slowly because they cannot afford the private medication,” he said.

Ranguma promised to talk to his colleagues in neghbouring counties to help in equipping the hospital under the inter-governmental arrangement.