After Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, one of the largest health facility in Nyanza region was aired on National television over the poor services offered, Governor James Ongwae defended the hospital terming the claims malicious.
Lack of water, inadequate wheelchairs and power to attend to the patients, poor sanitation and lack of medicine was revealed the hospital dismissed the reports by unveiling new wheelchairs, working water taps and active staffs.
Our visit to the facility during the weekend gave a different picture from the governor's defense.
For admission to Level 6 hospital, patients were required to buy basins and other personal items which should be provided by the facility. This has posed a great challenge to emergency patients too who must buy the 'necessities' before admission.
There was no running water but a drum of water placed outside the toilet for manual flashing using tins. here, you pay Sh10 per visit.
Lack of medicine was a major challenge as patients were referred to the chemists (just next to the hospital gate). According to a medical intern in the facility, who spoke on condition of anonymity, some of the chemists belong to various doctors and seniors officers in the hospital.
"These chemists next to the hospital are owned by the staffs here. This might be a major reason why the hospital lacks enough medicine especially the ones on demand," she said.
In his address last week, Ongwae said that the hospital is in good shape to serve the county.
With the strategic PR, the big question remains, who is right? Is the county government fooling the Kenyans?
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