The new cancer treatment centre at the Coast General Hospital. [Photo/ Maxwell Ngala].
Residents in Mombasa have been urged to utilise public health facilities within the county that have been upgraded and now offer quality medical services.Old Town MCA Murfad Abdallah Amour said residents prefer seeking medical treatment in private hospitals despite the government health facilities in the county being in good condition.Amour said residents go to private facilities which are expensive then later fault leaders for failing to assist them in clearing their bills.The MCA argued that public health facilities offer better treatment than private ones as they are better equipped.“We have witnessed many cases where residents call us at mid night to go and pay hospital bills after they have been detained yet they can receive the same services in our public health facilities,” he said.Amour gave an example of the Coast General Hospital which he said is a modern health facility that offers its services at very minimal rates.He said the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), dialysis centre, operation theater and maternity wings in the hospital were equipped with modern machines through funding by the Mombasa County government and other donors.“If we leaders seek medical treatment in such facilities then our people should also value these public health facilities because they are affordable,” he said.He said it was not part of their mandate to clear hospital bills for residents in private hospitals as leaders were working towards ensuring residents get quality medical services at public health facilities.