Bungoma Senator David Wakoli has raised concerns over the state of healthcare services in the county, warning that persistent shortages of medical supplies, inadequate staffing and poorly equipped health facilities are undermining access to quality healthcare for residents.
The senator called on the county government to urgently address the challenges saying the situation has left many patients struggling to receive timely and effective treatment.
Speaking at Ndalu health center in Tongaren Constituency on Wednesday, Senator Wafula Wakoli blamed Bungoma County government for the poor state of health and sanitation in Bungoma facilities.
“I have been going around the whole county and I’m unhappy with how the county government has neglected the health department,” the Senator stated.
“During the visit at Ndalu health center, I noted several challenges affecting service delivery, including the lack of an X-ray machine and ultrasound services, staff shortages, drug shortages and the need to upgrade the facilities’ ambulance,” he said.
At the same time, Senator Wakoli expressed concern that at Ndalu Health Centre, the maternity wing initiated in 2024 remains stalled after the contractor abandoned the project.
He urged the county government to urgently address these issues and complete the maternity wing to complement the new Safaricom Foundation maternity facility, which is nearing completion.
At Makutano Health Centre in Soysambu/Mitua Ward, Tongaren Constituency, the outpatient and maternity wings that began construction in 2018 remain incomplete denying residents’ essential services.
He also revealed that the facility is also facing drug shortages, reports of expired medicines, understaffing, lack of an ambulance, poor security due to the absence of a perimeter wall.
Meanwhile, he called on the CEC for Health and sanitation CPA Chrispinus Barasa to personally visit health facilities with his county teams and take immediate action.
In addition, he visited Tongaren Model Health Centre to assess the status of service delivery.
At Tongaren model health center, he identified several urgent issues, including the lack of an X-ray machine, a full haemogram machine, a mobile first aid kit for the ambulance, gaps in records management, an unsecured incinerator, inadequate storage for expired drugs and a laundry room that needs improvement.
He urged Governor Lusaka’s administration to strengthen the supervision of public health facilities and fast-track interventions to improve the quality of healthcare services available to the people of Bungoma.
