- Residents speaking to the Star revealed that some health facilities are indeed out of essential drugs.
- Turkana County Chief Officer for Medical Services, Gilchrist Lokoel stated that recent visits to some health facilities showed that most essential drugs for common ailments are available, with supplies sufficient for about a month.
Image: HESBORN ETYANG
Turkana residents have raised concerns over what they termed as lack of essential drugs in some health facilities within the county.
They claimed that when they take patients to hospitals, they are often asked to purchase medication from outside pharmacies.
However, the Turkana county government, through the Ministry of Health, said there are sufficient drugs available in health facilities.
On Monday, Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai dispatched a team from the Ministry of Health to verify the availability of drugs after claims that many health facilities lack essential medications.
Residents speaking to the Star revealed that some health facilities are indeed out of essential drugs.
“There are no drugs in our hospital. If you are told to buy Panadol outside the hospital, what does that tell you? The situation is pathetic,” James Esekon said.
“We need the county government to procure consignments of drugs on time to save lives and reduce the costs we incur buying medications.”
Esther Ekitela, a resident of Nakwamekwi said she couldn't remember the last time they bought malaria and Panadol drugs for minors from a chemist.
"We used to get these drugs for free at the hospital, but now we’re told to buy them because the hospital doesn’t have them,” she said.
Joseph Egelan, a human rights activist, urged the Ministry of Health to expedite the procurement of essential drugs to save patients’ lives.
“I believe the Ministry of Health has records from every health facility in the county. There’s no need to go around checking if there are drugs. The truth is, there are no drugs,” he said.
Egelan called on ministry officials to inform Governor Lomorukai about the actual situation and expedite the procurement process.
An officer in charge of a health facility in Turkana Central, speaking anonymously confirmed the shortage of essential drugs.
“We are facing a crisis we have never encountered before. There is an upsurge in malaria cases; last week, we had more than 150 positive cases in a single day. Currently, we don’t have essential drugs like malaria treatments and Panadol for patients,” the officer disclosed.
“We have only one dose of antivenom left, reserved for a serious snakebite case. For less severe cases, we refer patients to Lodwar County Referral Hospital.”
Turkana County Chief Officer for Medical Services, Gilchrist Lokoel stated that recent visits to some health facilities showed that most essential drugs for common ailments are available, with supplies sufficient for about a month.
He mentioned that the latest consignments were delivered between March and April 2024.
Lokoel added that non-pharmaceutical supplies are well-stocked, and program commodities like antimalarials, TB, and HIV treatments are plentiful in most facilities visited.
“Our spot checks indicate that essential commodities are generally available to serve the population of Turkana in our health facilities,” Lokoel said.
“Since we are at the beginning of the financial year, the Ministry of Health is working to fast-track the procurement of essential supplies based on consumption data.”