GOVERNOR WANGAMATI ASKED TO RESCUE SIBOTI MODEL HEALTH CENTER

- December 13, 2017

For a stranger passing by the health center, one may be forgiven for thinking that it is really a "Model" Health Center.
There is no secret that the so called Siboti Model Health Center in Siboti ward of Bumula constituency is actually a "wrong" model or rather a "roll" model for the facility is rolling in the wrong direction.
There's absolutely nothing that other health centers in the sub-county can be modelled along.
Residents are now appealing to the county government to intervene urgently in order to avert an otherwise looming health catastrophe.
What exactly ails this health center?
According to the nurse in charge, Ms. Caroline Wekesi, the most urgent crisis is water. The health facility has a borehole that was drilled during governor Lusaka's tenure. However,the motor is faulty and has made it impossible for the sick and staff to benefit from the project.

Speaking Monday at the facility during a public baraza also attended by the area Member of Parliament Hon. Mwambu Mabongah, Ms. Wekesi decried the severe lack of water, a problem that has persisted for over 5 months now.
Ironically it is estimated that only a paltry Ksh. 120,000 is required to sort out the water pump.
She also lamented severe understaffing at the health center with a staff of 5 nurses against the required 9 nurses. She added that the facilituy needs 2 clinical officers but there is none.
"We have been operating on a severe water scarcity for more than 5 months yet we only need Ksh. 120,000/- to sort it out. In addition, we are acutely understaffed with 5 members of staff against the needed 9 with two clinical officers forcing most of us to work round the clock under immense pressure and stress," she lamented.

For a facility serving close to 35,000 people, lack of water puts it at a risk of being a health hazard rather than a healthcare facility.

The health centre also has a paediatric and maternity wing,which stalled.As a result,there is a lot of congestion in a single 8-bed room that is used as a maternity wing.

Residents requested their MP to reach out to the governor for the problem to be addressed,saying efforts to reach their MCA,Wamusai Simiyu,have borne no fruit since the MCA is allegedly playing absentee even as his voters continue suffering.

"Governor Wangamati is my friend. I am going to call him this evening over this issue and I am sure the water problem will be addressed and the necessary staff posted here," said Hon. Mwambu.
Other residents suggest that the facility should be turned into a Level 4 Hospital especially.
"This health center has sufficient land and with our new sub-county, it is ripe to be converted into a Level 4 Hospital. All we need is political goodwill especially from the area Member of County Assembly and the governor," said Phobian Musichune an opinion leader.
Efforts by our reporters to reach the governor for comment did not bear fruit as phone calls went unanswered.