Naibor residents decry lack of drugs and toilets at dispensary

Nanyuki, Friday, June 2, 2023

KNA by Muturi Mwangi

Residents of Naibor in Laikipia North Sub County have decried lack of pharmaceutical drugs at the Naibor dispensary which has forced them to travel for more than 10 kilometres in search of medical services.

Speaking during Madaraka day celebrations in Naibor yesterday, residents lamented that they had been turned away several times since the facility lacked even painkillers.

They revealed they were charged over Sh500 by the boda boda riders to access the nearest health facility in Muramati and Segera due to a poor road network.

Others said they had to brave and wade through the wildlife infested forest since they could not afford the money for transport to access crucial medical services noting women and children were the most affected.

“You don’t have to be told, it's crystal clear, the hospital has no doctors to offer painkillers in case I get an emergency, not even first aid. For pregnant women they either go to Nanyuki or Segera despite the poor roads,” lamented John Lenkanan.

He called on the county government to intervene and ensure they get proper medical services to ease the burden of travelling long distances when seeking medical care.

“I am appealing to the government so that we get doctors and drugs since we already have a hospital but most of the time, we are sent away to buy drugs at the chemist,” added Lenkanan.

James Kanyi, another resident, said that they had a myriad of challenges since the population in the area was high and drugs supplied were not enough to serve them.

He pointed out that despite the dispensary being 100 meters to the electricity source, it lacked power to aid in preserving medicine that require coolant.

“There are drugs that require a fridge, and we don’t have electricity that can be used in our hospital although its just 100 meters from where the transformer. We appeal that this issue be addressed immediately so that we can access those drugs that need preservation,” urged Kanyi.

Mary Loruko, on her part said that it had become an expensive ordeal accessing medical services in the area since they have to travel long distances to hospital.

Residents also said the hospital had poor sanitation services which exposed them to risk of infectious diseases. A spot check by KNA revealed that the hospital lacked a toilet

Responding to residents’ concerns, Laikipia County Chief Officer in charge Of Health Timothy Panga said it was true the facility had one medical officer who also acted as the manager.

On poor sanitation, he said the latrine had collapsed and patients were using mobile toilets as they await the situation to be addressed.

In his inauguration speech last year, Laikipia governor Joshua Irungu had placed efficient delivery of health services on top priority pledging that no resident would walk more than three kilometres to access medical services.

Courtesy ; K. N. A