MCA raises concern over carcinogenic asbestos roofing in Kitui hospitals

An MCA in Kitui has said efforts towards fighting cancer in the county would be futile unless all carcinogenic asbestos sheets used as roofs in a number of health facilities are removed.

Cyrus Musyoka who represents Ikanga ward in Kitui South, on Tuesday said he was concerned that there was talk about reduction of cancer cases while the cancer causing asbestos roofing were found in hospitals.

“The asbestos roofing in the hospitals is a great risk to people. There is urgent need to quickly remove them to eschew loss of life and threat to the health of community members,” Musyoka said.

In a press statement, Musyoka appealed to the Kitui County government and other agencies to act with speed by removing carcinogenic asbestos roofing at the Ikanga Level 4 Hospital in his ward, as a matter of priority.

"Ikanga Level 4 hospital is roofed with asbestos sheets that are carcinogenic thus most likely having a bearing on the high cancer rate in the lower regions of Kitui South subcounty," he said.

The MCA said the inhaling or ingesting of asbestos causes its fibers to be trapped in the body. He added that over time, the trapped asbestos fibers cause inflammation, scarring and ultimately cancer.

"I am afraid that wind and rain coming through the broken asbestos sheets at Ikanga Level IV hospital cause the hazardous elements to fall from the roof making them directly risky to patients and staff.” 

However, in a rejoinder, the Kitui CEC for health and sanitation, Ruth Koki, assured that the County  government had already put in place mechanism to remove all the asbestos roofing in Kitui.

“Yes. Many facilities  were roofed with the  asbestos many years ago and already, we are in the process of removing them. The removal is actually currently taking place at the Kitui County Referral Hospital,” Koki said.

She however clarified that the removal of the asbestos was not an easy task as it required a budget, adding that there were strict environmental guidelines to be followed including safe disposition of the material.

“We will progressively continue removing them. However, a budget is required and the process also follows set and strict Nema guidelines. We have set a side a budget and we have commenced the removal at the Kitui hospital,” she said.

She said ultimately, the process will happen in all health facilities with the hazardous asbestos roofing.

“It is not something you wake up in the morning and decide to execute. You have to do proper planing. One has to adhere to strict guidelines. The point is we have started removing them,” Koki said.

She added that as the removal of the asbestos gets underway, the materials must be properly packaged for disposal which has to be done at designated points outside Kitui county.