Patients snubbing our hospitals, dying in homes – City Hall
Nairobi County government is concerned at the low levels of patients visiting their dispensaries and health centres run by clinical officers.
The dispensaries are run by the county government and have recently recorded a 30 per cent decline in patients.
County Health Executive Bernard Muia on Tuesday atributed the dip to a wrong perception that the facilities are closed due to the ongoing nationwide doctors’ strike.
Dr Muia said the Level 2 and Level 3 hospitals are run by clinical officers and nurses and are unaffected by the doctors’ strike. The facilities offer 80 per cent of healthcare service in the city.
“The number of patients in dispensaries and health centres has gone down by 30 per cent since the strike begun. Residents are underutilizing the services being offered because of perception that doctors are on strike,” said Dr Muia.
He singled out Plainview Dispensary, Kenya Railways Dispensary in South B and Police Line dispensaries as some of the most affected by the snub.
He said the facilities operate 24-hours and are staffed with health care providers.
“Most people in the city have a perception that only Kenyatta Hospital offers services, not knowing that they can get treatment early from our health centres. The more they stay home the more critical they get,” said Dr Muia.
The County Executive said that the health centres are well equipped and have been stocked with drugs worth Sh268 million.
