MCAs raise concern over ‘poor’ state of Embu Hospital

Embu Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have raised concerns over the state of patients at the Embu Level Five Hospital following reports that they have severally been forced to spend nights in the cold and on soiled bedding due to breakdown of the medical facility’s fabric dryer.

Runyenjes Central MCA Steve Munene Simba, who paid the referral hospital a visit, expressed his worry over the condition of the facilities in the hospital complaining that patients are now contracting pneumonia and other cold related ailments during the cold season due to lack of bed sheets and blankets.

“The facility that wash and dry fabric at the hospital broke down long time ago, forcing patients to survive without bedding,” noted Munene.

Munene also revealed that those patients who are lucky enough to have bedding have  to contend with sleeping on murky and stinky beds because once washed, there was no replacement.

His sentiments were echoed by Gaturi South MCA John Mwangi who lamented that the Ad Hoc committee selected by the County Assembly to handle matters affecting the Embu Level Five Hospital had totally failed in executing its mandates.

“Healthcare problems facing Embu County residents have been intensified by the fact that the main County Assembly Health Committee is incompetent and unable to handle issues thwarting the effective service delivery in the county health sector,” he said.

However, temporary County Speaker Ngari Makenge dismissed the issue as unprocedural saying it was not brought in the House using the correct channels.

He conceded that the matter was weighty but advised Munene to pursue it using the relevant County Assembly committee and have the responsible officers summoned to shed more light on the matter.

Written by Elizabeth Asasha