Residents of Songhor/Soba Ward in Tinderet Sub-County have raised concerns over the state of healthcare services in the area, citing persistent challenges in service delivery, shortcomings in the working of the Social Health Authority (SHA) cover, even as stakeholders step in to bridge gaps through periodic medical camps.
While recent months have seen the establishment and upgrading of several health facilities within the ward, locals say the improvements have not fully translated into efficient and reliable services.
Peter Kiprono, a resident of Cheptonon village, said although access to health centres has improved, critical shortages remain.
“We appreciate the new facilities because before we had to travel long distances for treatment, but even now, you go to a dispensary and there are no drugs. You are told to buy everything from private chemists,” he said.
From Maraba area, Jane Chebet noted that long waiting hours have become common due to understaffing. “The buildings are there, but services are still slow. Patients queue for hours because there are very few staff attending to many people,” she said.
Concerns over the conduct of some health workers also emerged, with residents calling for improved professionalism. David Kibet, a community elder, claimed that lethargy among a section of staff was affecting service delivery.
“Some health workers do not work with vigour and so in emergency cases, such kind of behaviour can cost lives,” he said.
However, other residents defended the health personnel, attributing the situation to understaffing and heavy workloads. Mercy Atieno, a youth leader, said the pressure on available staff is immense.
“You can find only one nurse handling dozens of patients. It is not fair to blame them entirely because they are overwhelmed,” she said.
The performance of the SHA cover has also drawn criticism, with many residents describing it as beneficial in theory, but problematic in practice due to ongoing hiccups.
John Tanui, a boda boda operator, said he had difficulty understanding how the cover works.
“I registered for SHA hoping it would ease my medical costs, but when I went to the hospital, I was still required to pay. Facilities are hesitant to attend to patients because of delay in reimbursement from the Authority, ” he said, declining to disclose the facility.
Rose Jepchirchir, a mother of three, pointed to system inefficiencies. “Sometimes you are told the system is down, or certain services are not covered. These hiccups are frustrating, especially for people who depend on it,” she said.
Even as these concerns persist, stakeholders including public benefit organizations (PBOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have played a critical role in boosting healthcare provision through organized medical camps across the ward.
Samuel Rono, a programme officer with a local PBO, said their organization, in partnership with University of Eldoret, conducted a week-long medical camp in late January 2026 at Meteitei and Cheptonon centres, offering free outpatient services, maternal care, and screening for non-communicable diseases.
“We were able to attend to hundreds of residents who otherwise struggle to access consistent care. These camps help to ease the burden on local facilities,” he said.
Agnes Mutai, a civil society representative, noted that similar initiatives were carried out in November 2025 in Maraba and Songhor trading centres, focusing on preventive care and health education.
“We partnered with volunteer doctors and county health officials to provide services such as cancer screening, immunization follow-ups, and health awareness. The turnout was overwhelming,” she said.
Residents acknowledged the positive impact of these camps, saying they have significantly improved access to essential services, albeit temporarily.
Nancy Cherono, a resident of Meteitei, said the camps have been a lifeline for many. “During the medical camps, services are efficient and medicines are available. You are treated well and attended too quickly. We wish this could be the case every day,” she said.
Despite their success, stakeholders emphasized that medical camps are not a substitute for a fully functional healthcare system.
Samuel Rono stressed the need for sustainable solutions. “Medical camps are short-term interventions. What we need is a strong, consistent healthcare system supported by adequate staffing, proper funding, and a functional SHA scheme,” he said.
Community leaders have also urged both the county and national governments to address systemic issues affecting healthcare delivery.
As stakeholders continue to complement government efforts through outreach programmes, residents are calling for urgent reforms to ensure reliable healthcare services.
“We just want a system that works every day, not only during medical camps,” said Peter Kiprono, adding that healthcare is a basic right and should be reliable for everyone.
By Sammy Mwibanda
