Dr William Nyakiba has warned the department of health in Nyamira County against continued construction of health centers without adequate facilities and staff.
Speaking on Thursday at Bokeira when he helped fund raise for medical expenses of an area resident, Dr Nyakiba said health centers were mushrooming in the county and many of them allegedly remained non-functional due to scarcity of facilities and manpower.
He said it was a waste of resources for the county to invest in buildings and forget on improving the facilities in the dispensaries.
“Many of you think a hospital is just the building. We must have facilities and man power for operations to take place. That is not the case in Nyamira. The county is building dispensaries at an alarming rate without stationing manpower and facilities in them. That does not add any value to us,” he said.
He urged the county leadership to consider equipping facilities that are in place before elevating new ones to villages for easy accessibility of health services to local residents.
“I support building of health centers, but that should be done after they equip the existing ones. If that is not done, then our health sector will diminish substantially,” he said.
Dr Nyakiba who emerged fifth in 2013 polls further urged the county government to consult with Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committees to avoid duplication of projects in the rural areas.
“We are also seeing duplication of projects by the county and CDF committees. As residents, we expect thorough consultations before such projects are initiated,” he said.