Government to up its game in healthcare, says minister

By Isaiah Lucheli

Medical personnel in Turkana District have conceded they face many challenges that hamper their efforts to combat cholera.

They say the hospitals do not have adequate staff. A nurse, who did not want to be named, claimed most of the hospitals do not have doctors and only nurses attend to patients.

But Public Health Minister Beth Mugo defended the Government over the claims of laxity, saying the concerns would be addressed through an ongoing process of recruiting 200 nurses for all constituencies.

"Understaffing in health facilities has been a problem and the Government is committed to addressing the issue.

"We have also deployed a surveillance team following the recent cases of flooding in Turkana and Kajiado," says the minister.

Climatic conditions

She, however, admitted the increasing cases of cholera outbreaks was a challenge, attributing it to the changing climatic conditions.

"The Government also plans to construct and equip a model clinic in each constituency. The clinics will ensure people have a referral centre near them and would not have to travel long distances for medical services," said Mugo. The minister also explained that the funding of the ministry was always affected in the event of emergencies.

"Budgetary allocation does not factor emergencies and when they occur it becomes a challenge but we have been able to handle them to our best," said Mugo.

Turkana Central Medical Officer of Health Gilchrist Lokoel confirmed 34 people had succumbed to disease between late last year and this year.

Lokoel admitted that staffing and shortage of drugs was one of their major challenges, expressing optimism the Government would respond to their recent requisition.

"Turkana is vast. It is a challenge to reach some of the affected villages because some are inaccessible by roads," explained Lokoel.

Most residents trek long distances to access health facilities. Turkana has an area of 77,000sq km.

Poor collaboration

Lokoel blames perennial cholera outbreaks and failure to effectively manage them to "poor collaboration among the Government departments".

"Cholera outbreaks cut across all Government departments. It is important that proper co-ordination be conducted for effectiveness," he said.

Lokoel also hoped the Government would address shortage of staff, drugs, and sanitary facilities to boost fight against the disease.

His Turkana North counterpart Donald Mogoi confirmed six people died in the recent outbreak in Lokitang.

When The Standard On Sunday visited the area patients were being treated under trees due to lack of medical facilities.

Mobile health facilities by church organisations have been playing a pivotal role in providing medical services to people in far-flung areas where Government services are unavailable.