Shock as patients share beds in Malindi hospital

Patients at the Malindi Subcounty Hospital wards are sharing beds due to congestion in the health facility which acts as a referral hospital in Kilifi county.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro and his deputy Flora Mbetsa made an impromptu visit to the hospital and found a pathetic situation.

Mung'aro, who went round the entire hospital to assess the situation, also found out that the operations at the facility were still analog and patients have to buy an exercise book for their records for them to be served.

During his tour, patients told journalists that they normally share beds in the ward because there was no space.

Journalists also learned that the facility lacks specialised services and drugs which force patients to be referred to Mombasa.

Authorities at the hospital admitted that the facility was congested but said they could not reject patients, but would rather they share beds than refuse to admit them.

Kanze Katana, a patient in the female ward, said one of the patients fell down at night while sharing a bed as she could not turn by herself.

"We are sharing beds here two people per bed. As our visitors, if there is a way you can assist us we will appreciate it," she said.

Esther Kadzo, who was admitted to the hospital three days ago, said the congestion is high and called on the authorities to intervene.

She, however, said they were getting enough drugs from the hospital.

Mwenda Katana, who is staying with a patient at the ward, said sharing a bed was tough.

"If you could help us so that at least every patient stays in one bed because the beds are small," he said.

Job Gayo, the medical superintendent at the hospital, said there is an urgent need for hospital beds and wards to be increased together with staff as there are shortages.

He said the problem of patients sharing beds is real because they cannot turn back patients yet they require to be admitted.

"We need to increase the beds and wards so that the patients can be in one bed each," he said.

Gayo said for the hospital to move away from the analog system, they require a digital system to help handle the data of all people in their system.

He said they have no ICU and CT scan machines which are the ones that will prevent any referral at the hospital to Mombasa.

"I am confident that the governor is going to handle the problem more than the previous regimes because he has been here with us since he was sworn into office," he said.

Mung'aro said the biggest problem at the facility was equipment such as ICU and CT scans.

"Give us the time so that we address them. In 100 days we shall ensure the problems are solved. All hospitals will have drugs and already Kemsa has started supplying drugs and we have seen them here," he said.

The the county chief said they will start taking records of all the specialised drugs required to buy them, even if they are not at Kemsa. 

He said patients who are poor and cannot afford to pay costs shall be allowed to go home.

Mung'aro said he will continue doing the impromptu visits even at night to ensure all workers deliver the services required to the people diligently.

(edited by Amol Awuor)