More than 500 flood-displaced persons in Karachuonyo constituency have benefited from free medical services from a humanitarian organisation.
The beneficiaries have been camping at Osodo Primary School for one month and have not been accessing hospitals.
Most of them, including children and the elderly, have been suffering in silence.
Clinician and the administrator at Beril's Medical Centre Lucy Okello said the camp has people with different illnesses but have not sought health services.
This is based on tests the organisation conducted.
On Wednesday, Beril's Medical Centre, through the support of God Will Provide Mission, provided free consultation services to the flood victims.
It was established that malaria is the prevalent disease at the camp. Apart from Osodo primary, other camps include Simbi and Kobala primary schools.
“The camp has people suffering from typhoid due to the use of unsafe water. They cannot access clean and safe water for drinking,” Okello said.
During checkups, expectant mothers said they have not been attending antenatal clinics.
Okello said some women at the camp confessed they do not get iron supplements during pregnancy.
Some elderly persons were found to be suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes but are not on medication because of inability to access hospitals.
“Chuowe dispensary, which is a bit closer, cannot handle many patients at the same time. The medication we’re providing is expected to help them,” she said.
God Will Provide director Newton Ogada said his organisation chose to help flood victims because of the ongoing doctors strike.
A stalemate between the medics and the government has paralysed provision of health services in the country.
“We’re urging disaster management department to assist the flood displaced persons with food and non-food items,” Ogada said.
He proposed to the government to relocate families displaced by floods and use the land that is usually under water when it rains to carry out other economic activities.
Kobala assistant chief George Oburu said whenever it rains and homes get flooded, residents report outbreak of waterborne diseases.
However, the increased number of patients in the area makes access to medical services at Chuowe dispensary very difficult.
He said sometimes medical workers at the facility are overwhelmed when the number of patients increases.
“Thanks to the organisation for coming to provide medication to the sick people who are in the camp,” Oburu said.
Some of the beneficiaries of the medical camp said they expect to prevent disease outbreaks at the camp.
Beneficiaries Jenifer Ager and Karen Odero said some have been suffering from diarrhoea and other stomach infections in the camp.
“There is need for more and frequent medication in the camp because many of us are susceptible to diseases,” Ager said.
