A severe water shortage at Saboti Sub-County Hospital has triggered growing concerns among residents and health rights advocates, with fears mounting over its impact on patient safety and service delivery.
Juma Kiboi, the CEO of the Socio-Economic Development and Rights Alliance (SEDRA), has sounded the alarm, warning that the ongoing water crisis puts both patients and healthcare workers at risk.
“It is worrying that the facility’s borehole is faulty and now they have to ferry water from other sources,” said Mr. Kiboi during a press briefing in Kitale.
He further said: “Such a scenario increases the risk of hospital-acquired infections, especially in sensitive areas like maternity wards and surgical units.”
According to Kiboi, the Department of Health in Trans Nzoia County has failed to provide a clear and lasting solution to the water challenge at the hospital, despite repeated outcries from staff and the local community.
“This health facility serves a large population, and such anomalies endanger the lives of patients and healthcare workers alike,” he added.
Beyond the water supply crisis, Kiboi decried the persistent shortage of drugs and non-pharmaceutical supplies at the facility, calling for immediate action from county health officials.
“The drug shortage menace seems not to be a Saboti Sub-County Hospital issue alone. It’s a countywide crisis that needs urgent intervention,” he noted.
Kiboi said: “We are calling on the county government to ensure timely and consistent supply of essential medicines to restore confidence in the public healthcare system.”
Efforts to reach officials from the Department of Health for comment on the matter were unsuccessful by the time of publishing.
Residents and advocacy groups are now urging the county leadership to prioritize investment in healthcare infrastructure to prevent further decline in service delivery.