Nakuru human rights defenders demand accountability following drama at PGH
Nakuru county referral and Teaching hospital (PGH) is the largest hospital in the South Rift region.
The mysterious disappearance of baby Mercy from Nakuru teaching and referral hospital (PGH), expired drugs worth two million and the unsolved murder of Doctor Laban Kiptoo.
These incidences, coupled with the recent viral video of guards chasing away patients from the hospital’s lobby paint a sad picture of this large referral facility.
But when exactly did the proverbial rain start beating the hospital?
According to Laban Omusundi executive director of the Grassroot Civilian Oversight initiative these problems stem from lack of political will to make health care much more effective.
“Secondly, these issues raise serious questions on the competency of hospital management” he says.
Masese Kemunche the Chief Executive Officer at the Centre of Enhancing Good Governance (CEDGG) agrees with Laban adding that the concerns speak to the collapse of systems in the hospital.
“One would wonder how exactly medicine expires when there is a system that tracks medicine movement. The department of health has been efficient at generating and utilizing data for decision making, so then what became of that?” he questions.
Shiko Kihika the founder of Tribeless Youth paints a picture of desperation that has befallen many Nakuru residents who heavily depend on the hospital for medical services.
“The current situation at the hospital is very scary. It still boggles my mind how a body can mysteriously disappear from a hospital morgue without a trace. Keep in mind this hospital not only serves Nakuru but the larger part of the South Rift region depends on it,” she laments.
Additionally, she says, “War Memorial Hospital remains closed yet it offered an alternative to the Level Five Hospital.”
Mr Kemunche further notes that running down such a facility means killing the poor since they have nowhere else to turn to.
On his part, Omusundi concludes by saying the hospital earns a lot of revenue for the county the money should be channelled to better the services for its people.