A nurse has revealed that she was forced to use torches while handling deliveries on countless occasions due to the county’s poor facilities.
Ednah Chepchumba, a nurse at Masol Dispensary in West Pokot County has had to put up with many challenges for the past three years.
Chepchumba disclosed to The Nation that she usually used a spotlight when the hospital’s lighting solar panel batteries ran out of power.
According to her, the small battery that the county officials purchased was not strong enough for the entire maternity ward.
In addition, there is no privacy for women since the delivery room is small.
The room is small and that means there is no privacy for the women. And there is no waiting room either.
The examination couch doubles up as the delivery bed while there is no waiting room nor drainage or sink.
Furthermore, there is no water and more often than not, the nurse has had to dig into her pockets to buy water at Ksh 20 per jerrycan.
And that is not all, the dispensary has a generator for pumping water, but it is broken down.
Elsewhere in In Taita-Taveta County, the situation is not any better. Patients prefer seeking treatment in Tanzania than go to public hospitals.
"I would rather travel to Tanzania instead of wasting my time here because I will not get quality treatment,” Peninah Mutua, a resident, commented.
