City Affairs

Pain for Kibera residents as health workers withdraw services at facility over insecurity

Kianda Level Four Hospital in Kibra. (Photo: Barack Odour)

By Barack Oduor | Tuesday, May 28, 2024

The level four facility was torched and had its windows and doors shattered on Sunday night by lawless youths who wielded crude weapons.

Residents of Kianda in Kibera are at pains regarding where to seek healthcare services after the only health facility managed by the city council of Nairobi closed over insecurity.

The level four facility was torched and had its windows and doors shattered on Sunday night by lawless youths who wielded crude weapons.

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The insecurity and closure of the facility in the area have caused fears as residents with medical emergencies now have nowhere to turn to, especially during late hours.

Boaz Onchari, the Chairperson of the organisation of all health workers in Nairobi under their Health Caucus Nairobi County in a letter advised medics at the facility to withdraw their services until they are assured of their safety.

"Security of our members is paramount. We can never take this for granted. After wide consultations with the stakeholders and the members, we have been left with no option other than advising our members to withdraw services from the said facility until such a time that they will be assured of their security for effective service delivery," said Onchari.

The letter dated May 27 is addressed to top health officials in the county, including chief officers of health facilities and of medical services. The letter is also copied to the county health executive and Langa'ata and Kibra sub-counties health heads.

They noted that the culprits who committed the act have not been arrested and charged, hence making their security in the facility not guaranteed.

Community Health Promoters who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice on Tuesday said they have been forced to direct patients coming to the facility to other medical centres far from the area.

"This is the most dependable referral facility that residents of Kianda use. We have had to direct them elsewhere despite their situation," said Thomas Obange, a health promoter attached to the facility.

Another health promoter, Joseph Ndung'u, narrated that the suspects wanted to steal medical machines and other valuable hospital equipment, hence their action of destroying the windows and doors of the facility.

He said the medics at the facility are ready to offer their services but are afraid following the incident.

"People who seek services here sometimes come as far as Kawangware, Satellite and Katwekera. We urge the county government to now build a perimeter wall around the hospital to protect it from criminal elements," he said.

Deputy County Commissioner Odidi Otieno told The Eastleigh Voice that he has gotten the reports on the attacks and investigations are underway with the intention to apprehend those who caused the damage.

"I am indeed aware of the Kianda incident. We are doing our investigations to get to the bottom of what happened, " said Odidi.