Medical services in Vikunga village, Shinyalu constituency, in Kakamega county have been disrupted after fire razed a dispensary.
Witness Godfrey Mutabalia said the fire broke out on Wednesday at 1pm after a gas cylinder exploded when a health worker was cooking ugali. The fire spread fast and engulfed the whole building.
“We heard a loud blast and rushed to the scene. Within minutes, the fire had spread and the dispensary was engulfed in flames,” he said.
Mutabalia said despite the swift response by residents, who tried to salvage what they could, vital medical supplies and equipment were either destroyed or rendered unusable by the heat.
Midwife Muhanji Alusa, who operates in the area, called for urgent support and help since the dispensary was serving a large community in Shinyalu.
“We need tents and medical supplies. Pregnant women, the elderly and children are the most affected,” she said.
Those seeking treatment are being attended to under a tree adjacent to the burnt facility.
Residents are now calling on the county government and well-wishers to intervene and fast-track reconstruction of the facility and consider upgrading the dispensary to a fully equipped health centre.
“This tragedy could be a blessing in disguise. We now have a chance to build a better facility,” resident Coletah Khamete said.
Kakamega county health executive Livingstone Imbayi, who visited the scene, promised that services would be restored soon.
“We are already making arrangements to set up a temporary structure as we plan for a permanent building.
Health is a priority and we won’t allow our people to suffer,” Imbayi said.
He said investigations into the safety standards at the facility and circumstances surrounding the explosion are ongoing.
He also said there were no casualties during the incident.
