By Martin Masai
CRITICAL units of the Machakos Referral Hospitals have closed down in a dramatic sign of things gone wrong in health provision under Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
Gov Wavinya and Mr Kuyu
The latest to close down is the theatre- where the Head of the General Surgery Dr George Orerah announced disruption of daily theatre operations until Governor Wavinya's government provides basic theatre supplies.
It comes as reports emerged that the hospital mortuary has closed down,coupled with the collapse of a unit that washes hospital linen and theatre stuff.
The closure comes a week after the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital shut down due to shortage of critical care supplies.
The basic supplies include gloves, sterile drapes, sterile gauzes and Sutures. Dr Orerah, in a memo to all departments of the hospital headlined " Frequent Disruptions of Essential Theatre Supplies" said that theatre elective lists will be cancelled every 9am " should the essential theatre supplies not be available"
He said patients will not be requested to purchase their own supplies outside the hospital because the facility is routinely expected to provide the basiscs then bill patients when they are being discharged.
The memo is copied to the Medical Superintendent - Dr. Nzomo, notwithstanding swirling reports that he has been demoted, and the Head of Clinical Services. It is dated January 29,2024.
The ICU closure was announced on January 24,2024 in a memo from Consultant Anaesthologist Dr Veronica Mutinda, addressed to the Medical Superintendent Dr Nzomo.
Dr Mutinda announced the interruption of services at the critical life support unit adding that they are unable to offer critical services in the ICU. The letter arrived at Dr Nzomo's Desk, prompting him to remark " Very unfortunate, to escalate it to Director of Medical Services and CO - Medical Services Dr Miyenda.
Reports also emerged of frosty relations between hospital top brass, ministry Chief Officers and the political establishment who are working at daggers-drawn, whose result is a collapsing health sector.
Dr Mutinda said there was a complete stock out of Breathing Circuits, items for Blood Gas Analysis, Perfusor Lines, Catheter mounts, Bacterial Filters for Ventilators and HME and Bacterial Filters.
So what is the trouble at Machakos Referal Hospital?
Health CECM Dr Daniel Yumbya declined to comment and promised to issue a comprehensive statement on Friday.
A source told The Anchor that problems are coming from the Government structure set up by Governor Ndeti that has ensured a centralised procurement for all government services.
It transpires that the Minister for Finance- Muia Kuyu calls all government departments to inquire about their procurement needs- then he starts processes that never seem to end- leading to delays in purchase of critical supplies.
More to follow....
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