Residents protest sorry state of dispensary

Nyenye-Misori dispensary's maternity wing. [Isaiah Gwengi, Standard].

When Nyenye-Misori dispensary was built more than a decade ago, residents of Anyanga, Uhanya, and Nyenye beaches breathed a sigh of relief.

They believed that the dispensary would save them from walking long distances to seek health services.

Today, despite increased demand for healthcare, the facility is in a sorry state and can barely deliver services to residents.

Residents claim that the facility lacks essential drugs and is struggling with poor sanitation with some of the rooms infested with bats and rodents.

Collins Andiki has urged Governor Jame Orengo to move with speed and save the facility from collapsing.

"It is very sad that despite raising these issues several times, nothing is being done to address them. We want a proper audit of the situation at the facility," said Andiki.

He wants the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) and the Department of Physical Planning to assess the status of the facility.

When The Saturday Standard visited the dispensary last week, a nauseating smell was emanating from the single toilet that serves the facility. The toilet is full and is yet to be drained.

"This is a health hazard and we fear an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera," said Benard Okoth, a resident.

A staff who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal claimed that the facility relies on water vendors.

"We have two water tanks and we rely on rainwater. During drought, we purchase water from vendors," said the staff.

Reports indicate that out of the four buildings in the dispensary's compound, three have already been condemned but the staff and patients have been forced to use them despite the danger they pose.

Public Health Officer Everlyne Wesonga confirmed that the buildings were declared unfit for human habitation.

While launching the distribution of kits to Community Health Promoters (CHPs) last month, Governor Orengo said his administration has allocated resources to equip facilities and expand the physical infrastructure.

The facility is among those targeted for rehabilitation by the county government.

Efforts to get a comment from the health department were futile.