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| Kyuso Sub-county Hospital was shut down by Kitui county government over alleged insecurity concerns. PHOTO|MT |
BY
MWINGI TIMES TEAM
mwingitimes@gmail.com
Residents have raised concerns following the closure of Kyuso Sub-County hospital in Mwingi North Constituency over what county government authorities described as insecurity concerns.
mwingitimes@gmail.com
Residents have raised concerns following the closure of Kyuso Sub-County hospital in Mwingi North Constituency over what county government authorities described as insecurity concerns.
Kitui
county ministry of health on Tuesday indefinitely shut down the hospital citing
threats to the casual workers drawn from outside the locality. Through a notice
addressed to the staff, the institution’s Medical Superintendent Daniel Musiani
said the drastic decision was reached following “threats posed by unknown
entities to members of staff working in the hospital.”
“The
county ministry of health has decided to close the facility indefinitely
pending investigations by law enforcement agencies and ensure safety of all
employees working herein,” the notice read in part.
Health ministry Chief Officer Dr. Richard Muthoka
was quoted by local radio stations saying the drastic decision was arrived at
after leaflets were circulated warning a section of the subordinate
staff to vacate the hospital.
But
the residents on Wednesday demanded immediate re-opening of the health facility
that serves three sub-counties of Kyuso, Mumoni and Tseikuru in the vast northern
region of the county.
They
rubbished the claims by the county health officials arguing there wasn’t insecurity
in the area. The locals instead said the move to close down the health facility
was aimed at punishing them after they recently called out the governor Charity
Ngilu for neglecting the area and concentrating development on her Kitui Central backyard. Nicodemus Muthengi, a local said the hospital closure was unexpected and no sufficient reason was given to warrant it, hence requesting the government to reopen the facility.
"We don't know and have not heard about insecurity in Kyuso. We want the hospital reopened and operational as many people are suffering for no good reason," said a local Mr Nicodemus Muthengi.
His
sentiments were shared by Rose Maluki – a businesswoman in Kyuso town – who downplayed
the move by the county government authorities. She expressed fears that the
indefinite closure could have been orchestrated by the fact that nearly a
fortnight ago the residents raised concerns over the low levels of development
recorded in the area since Mrs. Ngilu ascended into reign as the county boss.
"You can’t let expectant mothers to
suffer by closing the only health facility in this area so as to show your
political superiority. We want to tell you that even God is watching and you
should be wary of the consequences of mistreating his people," Ms Maluki
said.
"What
exactly do you want from Kyuso? Please
tell us. We are tired! We have given you enough time to change all in vain; we
are only waiting for our chance to punish you come 2022,” she tearfully added.
Kyuso
market traders chairman Morris Munyoki questioned the hurried manner in which
the decision to close the health facility was reached saying the decision was
politically motivated and inhuman. "How
can a hospital be closed citing insecurity in a place where cases of
lawlessness are unheard of?" posed the market chair.
He
further cautioned: "This is a clear evidence of politics and we will not
tolerate politics at the expense of people's lives."
The
residents said the closure of the sub-county hospital will inconvenience the
local population since medics in Mwingi Level IV where the patients from Kyuso had
been referred to have boycotted work following a two-month salary delay.
The residents’
uproar came at a time when the Sub-county Security Committee had already rubbished the threats
and faulted the move to close down the medical facility. Deputy County Commissioner for Kyuso Chaunga
Mwachaunga said the hospital administration should have requested for security
to be deployed in the facility instead.
Area
leaders condemned the closure and called on the county government to reconsider
their decision and immediately reopen the facility. Kyuso
MCA Stephen Musili said the closure was unwarranted since the move would
trigger life threatening consequences to many patients who depend on the
facility for daily and routine medical attention.
"Kyuso
is a peaceful area and we wonder how any worker would have been threatened, yet
we had only raised concerns the rate of casual workers coming from other areas,
a matter we since resolved with the hospital management, we now wonder why the
County has over reacted," he said.
The
Ward Rep who is also the County Assembly Majority Whip asked the police to
apprehend those behind the threatening leaflets that are said to have caused
the shutdown of the hospital. He was
echoed by his nominated colleague Munyoki Mwinzi.
National
Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in a press release signed the CEO
Hassan Mohamed on Wednesday said had moved in to investigate the threat claims
at the hospital.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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