Drug shortages hamper service delivery in Homa Bay

Homa Bay,

Thursday, November 16, 2023

KNA by Davis Lagat

Patients suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes in Homa Bay County have urged the government to ensure public health facilities are stocked with adequate drugs.

The patients lamented frequent drug shortages in health facilities at lower levels.

They urged the government to cascade the distribution of such medicines to grassroots facilities to enable them access with ease and cut their transport expenses.

A diabetes patient Millicent Odhiambo told the press their lives are in limbo due to difficulties in accessing drugs to manage their condition.

Odhiambo who was diagnosed with the disease in 2018 said though they get medicine free of charge they struggle to access them.

“Many patients who suffer from the disease spend a lot of money to travel to get drugs. The medicine should be made available at the local hospitals,” Odhiambo said.

She lamented that some patients default on prescriptions to manage the condition leading to severe complications.

“Some of us also struggle to get enough food to stay healthy. Let the drugs be brought to nearby dispensaries for quick access by patients,” she added.

Médecins Sans Frontières (doctors without borders) Regional Coordinator Bright Mukhuna whose organization supports the management of diabetes in Homa Bay called for more interventions to reduce the effects of the medical condition.

Mukhuna said many health facilities at the lower level in Homa Bay do not offer services for non-communicable diseases. He said most patients were referred to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital when their condition worsened.

MSF operates at the Referral Hospital where it has a post-discharge clinic where non-communicable diseases are checked before patients are referred to their local facilities.

“There is a need for concerted efforts to provide intervention to the diseases. We operate in some wards and we’ve realized that a lot of patients are suffering from non-communicable diseases,” Mukhuna said.

Mukhuna called on the Homa Bay government to put more effort into managing diabetes.

He said the disease presents a lot of social challenges including financial difficulties.

“If the disease is not well managed, patients are not able to contribute to the development of the country,” he added.

Currently, MSF gives diabetes drugs for free at Nyalkinyi and Marindi hospitals. Homa Bay non-communicable diseases coordinator Silas Mado said many people suffer from diabetes but were unaware.

“We’re urging residents to go for a test so that they can manage diabetes,” Mado said.

He said the county government will use community health promoters to diagnose patients and refer them to the nearest health facilities.

Community Health Promoters have been given comprehensive medical kits.

Courtesy; KNA