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Nairobi County Assembly Health Commitee Chair Maurice Onyango has called on the Senate to approve Ksh. 1 Billion grant for Mama Lucy Hospital tin order to save it from the current state.
The Nairobi Assembly’s health committee which visited the hospital revealed that the hospital is suffering from serious financial contrains and increasing its funding will be the only way to save it.
Onyango stated that Mama Lucy currently has many walk ins unlike Kenyatta National Hospital that has more referrals.
“The senate should not tell us to close the hospital but instead fight for Mama Lucy Hospital to get more funds… We want Mama Lucy Hospital to be given a grant of Ksh. 1 Billion to save the hospital,” said Onyango.
He further stated that that the senate proposing to close down the hospital which serves over 2,000 patients daily is fighting devolution an it should stop.
During the visit, the hospital officials told the committee they even lack facilities like the ICU for patients in critical conditions and theatres.
Nairobi Health Committee led by Chairperson Maurice Onyango and Mama Lucy Administartion and workers pause for a photo during the visit. Photo/Courtesy.
This comes aweek after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) also opposed the suggestion by the senate committee on health to close Mama Lucy Kibaki hospital.
“The senate hints at closing Mama Lucy Hospital which serves a population of about 2.1m whose daily visits is approximately 1800. This is unacceptable and backward,” the union said on Twitter.
The senators and the family of a woman who died in an alleged case of negligence at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital had called for the temporary closure of the facility.
The deceased, Maureen Anyango, died at the facility after giving birth to twins.
Mama Lucy Kibaki hospital has a bed capacity of 132 but conducts approximately 1000 deliveries per month a midst shortage of health workforce, drugs, ICU, theatres and other critical consumables.
The union said that the move will adversely affect the entire population in Nairobi Eastlands by denying them the right to access timely, affordable and quality healthcare services.
“Our question to the senate health committee is, are we looking at improving and strengthening the available health delivery units or closing them down?” the union posed.
“As a union, we want to dismiss the senate health committee suggestion of closing the hospital as a load of hot air,” the union said.
The family lawyer of the deceased, Bonventure Otieno, and the senators termed the hospital as a ‘death chamber’ where patients are taken to slaughter.