Residents of Marachi Central ward, Butula Sub County, Busia County have expressed their gratitude after a free medical camp that was done at Nela Dispensary coordinated by the area Member of County Assembly (MCA), Shadrack Masinde.
Led by Phylis Kwena, the residents said they previously walked long distance looking for treatment due to the poor situation at Nela Dispensary
“We have come in large numbers so that we can be treated and get drugs. Many of our people are suffering because they cannot afford to buy drugs which our health center lacks.
We have been coming to this dispensary which lacks even malaria drugs. This medical camp has come to help many of us including the elderly with different health complications,” she said.
Kwena urged the County leadership to ensure that the dispensary was operational and have enough drugs so that people can be hopeful when seeking for health services.
“Let this health center get the full support from the stakeholders so that we can have drugs, health workers, clean water and electricity so that we can receive health services accordingly,” she said.
The MCA said the camp was carried out at Nela dispensary as one way of encouraging the community to seek treatment at the center which has remained deserted for a long time.
“I have worked with my friends and we have managed to get drugs that we have brought today to treat our people. We cannot negotiate on people’s health and I believe that the free medical camp will enable many people to get treatment and drugs. We have brought drugs for blood pressure, diabetes, malaria, family planning vaccines among others,” he added.
Masinde said they had passed a budget that had allocated every ward drugs, something that has never been done by the county government of Busia.
“In our last year’s budget, every ward was supposed to receive drugs worth Sh3 million but as MCA’s we have not seen this money neither have we seen the drugs nor when you ask, there is no one giving proper explanation. I am in health committee but the drugs that were purported to have been bought are not there”
He urged the community to embrace and make use of the hospital so that the services can improve.
“Let’s come together and improve our health center. We passed a bill that enables funds raised by the health center to be retained and help to better the services. That’s why I want us to make use of it. Register with SHA and seek treatment as this will improve the services of our health center.
Masinde added that he is working to ensure the electricity at the hospital has been restored. He added that the residents have requested for the construction of a maternity ward, promising that he will ensure it is done in the next financial year.
Janet Akoth, the nurse in charge of Nela dispensary expressed her hope that the medical camp will enable local residents to embrace the treatment at the dispensary
“The situation at this dispensary has been difficult. Sometimes I have been spending a whole day with only one patient and sometimes none. Today I have seen many people and this is because they were told there is free treatment and drugs. My hope is that this will be a turning point in making this place better again. My appeal is that we get enough drugs at this place so that we can offer health services to our people”
Akoth highlighted the difficult situation in which they have been operating in expressing her hope that the intervention of the community and area leader will change the situation.
“The casual workers who are helping me have gone for 31 months without any salary. We have been operating in difficult conditions without drugs, water and even electricity. I have seen the community and the area MCA come on board to help us which is a good step towards restoration of this dispensary.”
Other residents associated the problems at the dispensary to the board committee accusing them for neglecting their duties to ensure the dispensary serves the community.
“We want the new board at this dispensary because our people are suffering. We cannot have a hospital without water and electricity. The toilets do not have doors and yet we have people purporting to be the board members” said Erick Were.
His sentiments were echoed by Justine Wesonga who said the committee has had only one meeting for the whole year.
“The current board has been in existence for two years in which they have had only one meeting. They also didn’t cascade the meeting resolutions to the required office for action to be taken. We want the dispensary board to take resign so that we get other people who will help to better our dispensary.”
By Rodgers Omondi
