Concerns raised over sorry state of Isiolo referral hospital

Isiolo Level Four Hospital is in a sorry state due to lack of crucial supplies.

Health workers say the referral facility is facing shortage of blood and, in some instances, available units have expired.

The shortage has been attributed to frequent maternal deaths at hospital as mothers, who bleed excessively during childbirth, are unable to get emergency help.

Last Monday, more than 100 patients were not served lunch and had to look for food elsewhere.

Director for Health Mollu Huka said the incident was occasioned by delayed supply of cooking gas.

Thursday, nominated MCA Hassan Shano said lack of proper management was to blame for the crisis facing the health sector.

"In May, five expectant women died in Merti because there was no ambulance to ferry them to Isiolo. At the referral facility, two mothers died due to lack of blood. We want to be told what is going on,’’ said Mr Shano.

The lawmaker said it was embarrassing for patients to beg for food from Good Samaritans while adequate funds had been set aside for hospital supplies.

Medical Superintendent Mohammud Abdikadir acknowledged the problem, saying some crucial services were lacking.

Dr Abdikadir said it was painful "to watch our mothers lose lives under inhuman conditions".

The medic was reinstated to the position late last month. He had been demoted in February after admitting that lack of ambulance services was contributing to maternal deaths.

Shano said out of nine ambulances, only two were operating and wondered what had happened to five that were purchased in 2014.

A tour of the laboratory by Abdikadir showed that 16 units of donated blood had expired because the facility failed to take the samples for screening on time.

The referral facility continues to record cases of maternal deaths, with the latest incident recorded last Saturday.

Last month, one woman died due to lack of blood Group O while giving birth.

The maternity wing, the official said, lacks vital equipment like cord clamp that is essential in clamping infants’ umbilical cord to prevent loss of blood and infection.