Mission hospital turns to tents to house patients

A mission hospital in Igoji, Meru County has turned to makeshift wards to help house its surging number of patients even as the doctors’’ strike enters its 39^th day.

St Anne’s Mission Hospital erected a tent to serve as a ward after its wards became full and unable to handle the huge number of patients, even after the hospital turned some of their offices into wards.

“Our capacity is 50 patients but we are currently handling more than 100 patients,” said sister in charge Jackline Enjete.

Sisiter Enjete expressed that owing to a large number of patients, the hospital has been faced with a shortage of staff, adding that some patients are unable to pay their hospital bills.

“We urge the county government to develop a mechanism to support us as we wait for public hospitals to open,” she added.

Nelson Nyaga, one of the more than 20 patients to have been housed in the makeshift ward, said: “I was admitted here last week. I was lucky to find a bed in this tent because all rooms were flocked”.

Meru County CEC for health, Dr William Muraa, said the county government was keen to offer support to similar facilities.

The hospital is expected to receive more patients from the neighboring Tharaka Nithi County whose health workers are set to go on strike.

Written by Michael Majanga