Newborns at risk of contracting TB following shortage of BCG

Mothers giving birth are worried about the health of their newborns following an acute shortage of Bacillus Calmette- Guerin (BCG) jab that has hit the country.

The shortage has been reported for the past one and half months, an issue that might put new born babies into danger of contracting Tuberculosis (TB) if intervention will not be worked on.

A section of mothers are now forced to exclude their newborns by limiting number of visitors to their homes for fear of contracting TB.

Phillis Wangui from Shabab is among mother who has been avoiding visitors into her home after she failed to get the jab.

“Since I gave birth to my baby, I have not been allowing individuals to my house including close family members because I feared through contact, he might contract TB,” said the mother.

Wangui gave birth to her fourth born at Mercy Mission hospital in Nakuru on January 16, but there was no jab at the private facility.

A friend advised her to seek for the jab at Forest Industrial Training Institute (FITC) dispensary in Nakuru Town West, and she was lucky to receive the jab.

Yesterday, The Standard conducted an impromptu visit in several private and government hospitals and established there was shortage of the jab.

Mothers woke up early to queue at FITC dispensary in Nakuru Town West after learning there was limited availability of the jab.

Rhoda Joseph was among others who informed The Standard that she has been looking for the jab for the past two weeks.

Mrs Joseph gave birth to a baby boy at Mother Kevin hospital on January 10, but there was no vaccine she was informed to look for any facility where she would be offered.

“I have been visiting various hospitals after birth for BCG without help, but today, I am happiest mother because my baby is safe after receiving the vaccine,” said Joseph.

The number of children seeking the jab at the dispensary was overwhelming.

The facility nursing officer in charge Jane Gakara said there was only 40 doses for 40 children despite high flow of newborns.

“Only 40 children are scheduled for vaccination, but the number is high. It is unfortunate that majority will miss out,” she said.

According to her, there is shortage of the jab issued to children immediately after birth or within a period of two weeks-if delayed, babies are likely to contract TB.

BCG is supplied by the national government through the National Vaccination Program to respective facilities.

Naomi Moraa, from Ng’ambo was devastated after she was put on long waiting queue at the dispensary.

Moraa gave birth at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital on January 11, but her baby was not injected.

After two days, she was discharged and told to find alternative facility for the jab issued to new born babies at birth to prevent her newborn from contracting TB.

She visited various hospitals including Kapkures, Kelelwet, Industrial area health center and Rhonda Maternity but it was not available.

“I rushed here after being informed by a friend that I could get the vaccine, but I have been told to wait even after arriving by around 8am,” she said.

She added “I am devastated I came here early but I fear I might not be able to receive vaccine because of high turnout of mothers. I have bene visiting several hospitals without success,”

Medics in counties have maintained that lack of supply of BCG jab by the national government is affecting vaccination program in counties.

In an earlier interview, Jackson Kioko, director of medical services in the ministry of health dismissed reports that there was shortage of the childhood vaccine.

Kioko said that the problem was distribution of vaccines by logisticians in the counties.

According to the director, there was adequate stock of the jab at government depot in Kitengela and Nairobi and asked counties to place an order for supply.

“There is adequate stock in vaccines depot in Kitengela and Nairobi depot and expecting concealment for the next six months on January 16 and county government should place an order for distribution in hospitals,” the director said in an interview.

Efforts by The Standard reach Dr Kioko for a comment yesterday remained futile as he did not respond to phone calls neither respond to text messages.

In Bomet, health executive Dr Joseph Sitonik admitted to shortage of the jab for the past one month and that county made an order of between 4,000 and 6,000 in December last year, but there is no communication from ministry on when the supply will be made.

The county has five sub counties where distribution of the jab was done, for example Bomet Central received the jab in October, Sotik and Bomet Central in December while Chepalungu and Konoin did not receive, and have been depending on re-distribution.

If the supply will not be make in a weeks’ time, he said there will be negative repercussion on vaccination program to newborns.

“The county made an order for supply of BCG, and we were told by the national government to wait,” said Sitonik.

Sitonik said the county has been depending on supply of the vaccines from KEPI depot in Nakuru, but it is out of stock.

“It is not clear on when we shall receive the vaccines as depot in Nakuru do not have,” he said.

Chief Officer of public health in Baringo, Winnie Bore said the county made an order of supply to the national government that supplied last bunch of vaccines at the county stores in November last year.

Dr Bore said there is some stock in the stores being re-distributed to several facilities in remote parts of the county.

“BCG has not been supplied, though we are using what we have in our stores,” said the doctor.

The same issue has been reported in Nakuru and Kericho Counties.