Hospital Blunder That Led to MP Murunga's Death

The late Matungu MP Justus Murunga addressing a crowd
The late Matungu MP Justus Murunga addressing a crowd.
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Details have emerged showing that the late Matungu MP Justus Murunga could not be admitted at the Matungu Sub-County Hospital on Saturday night, November 14, because the facility lacked oxygen.

Sources indicated that he probably would have had a chance of surviving if only he had access to oxygen in good time.

A report by Daily Nation indicated that the lawmaker, who developed breathing problems at night, was first rushed to Matungu Sub-County Hospital, but the medics chose not to admit him as the hospital lacked oxygen cylinders.

His family then opted to transfer him to St Mary's Hospital about 10 Kilometers away, but his condition deteriorated in the 20 mins that he was driven to the facility.

Entrance to Matungu Sub-County Hospital in Kakamega County.
Entrance to Matungu Sub-County Hospital in Kakamega County.
Daily Nation

On arrival, the medics at the institution are said to have tried to resuscitate the lawmaker, before he was pronounced dead shortly after.

The MP is said to have been suffering from two underlying conditions; diabetes and hypertension.

The incident comes at a time when the health fraternity is facing massive challenges in terms of resources which has been attribute to devolution.

Ideally, Matungu Sub-County Hospital, which falls under the Level 4 category, is expected to be well equipped for the provision of specialized services.

In July, a survey by the Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation discovered that 90% of hospitals countrywide lacked piped oxygen, yet Oxygen Therapy was recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO) to cater for all severe and critical Covid‐19 patients.

The report indicated that 30% of the facilities did not have regular supply of oxygen, while others delivered oxygen directly from the tanks to the patient.

An alarming number of healthcare workers have succumbed to the coronavirus in the past three days with Dr Emarah Ashraf, Dr Hudson Alumera, Dr Jackline Njoroge and Dr Faith Kanjiru Mburu losing their lives.

In the recent months, doctors and nurses have issued strike notices over what they termed as poor pays accusing the state of not honouring the Collective Bargain Agreement that would furnish them with allowances including cars and see them paid for overtime.

In August, Kisumu health workers had also interrupted services for six days over non-payment dating as far back as March 2020.

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Matungu MP Justus Murunga Makokha addresses the media in 2018
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