The people of Dukana Ward in North Horr Constituency, Marsabit County, are up in arms over what they say is the continued collapse of healthcare services at Dukana Health Centre, the only facility serving more than 15,000 residents.

In a statement on Wednesday, July 8, the residents expressed their deep concerns at the high rate at which the community was losing newborn babies and patients, allegedly due to inadequate medical personnel, poor emergency response, and the general lack of essential healthcare services.

Just recently, the residents say, they witnessed another tragic yet “preventable” loss of life in the health facility, occassioned by the facility not having sufficient staff, equipment and quality maternal care.

“Every life lost leaves families devastated and raises painful questions about whether our community is receiving the healthcare it deserves,” the residents noted. “Dukana Health Center currently operates with only one nurse and no clinical officer. This severe shortage of healthcare workers has placed an unbearable burden on the few available staff and continues to deny our people access to timely and quality medical care.”

The residents cannot fathom why the critical Dukana Health Centre has a laboratory that lacks essential equipment, reagents, and medical supplies, making it impossible to provide reliable diagnostic services. Patients, they say, are forced to seek referrals or go without proper diagnosis, delaying treatment and putting lives at risk.

The residents further revealed that the facility’s only ambulance was taken away for repairs over two years ago with assurances that it would be returned.

“To date, it has never been brought back, and its whereabouts remain unknown. Dukana is located more than 300 kilometres from Marsabit Town. In the event of a medical emergency, requesting an ambulance from Marsabit can take an entire day before it reaches our community. For critically ill patients, expectant mothers, and newborn babies, such delays can mean the difference between life and death.”

According to the residents, the health center also lacks a dedicated male ward, forcing male patients to be admitted in female wards or within the maternity unit, compromising patient privacy, dignity, and the quality of healthcare services.

“The welfare of support staff has been ignored for far too long. The facility’s watchman was forced to resign after serving for fourteen consecutive months without receiving any salary, leaving the health center without adequate security. Casual workers have now worked for two years without receiving their rightful wages, while Community Health Promoters continue serving our communities without receiving their stipends from the county government. These dedicated workers are the backbone of our healthcare system, yet they have been neglected.”

Just like any other Kenyans in different parts of the country, the people of Dukana Ward say they also pay taxes, and are entitled to the highest attainable standard of healthcare services.

Consequently, the residents is now calling upon the County Government of Marsabit, the National Government, the Ministry of Health, development partners, non-governmental organizations, and all relevant stakeholders to urgently see into it that additional nurses and clinical officers have been deployed to Dukana Health Centre.

The residents also want the relevant authorities to make sure that the facility’s laboratory is fully equipped with modern diagnostic equipment, reagents, and essential supplies. They are also demanding the immediate return of the repaired ambulance, failure to which, a permanent replacement should be provided.

They are also urging the county and national government to collaborate in constructing a dedicated male ward, as well as improve the facility’s infrastructure.

Additionally, the residents want all outstanding salaries and stipends owerd to the former former watchman, casual workers, and Community Health Promoters paid in full, and improve security at the health facility to protect staff, patients, and medical equipment.

“We are not asking for special treatment. We are demanding equality, dignity, and justice. The lives of the people of Dukana matter. We cannot continue losing mothers, newborn babies, and other patients because of failures that can and should be addressed. Enough is enough. We call upon those entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding public health to act immediately before more innocent lives are lost.”