CDF FUNDED DISPENSARIES MALFUNCTIONING, PUTS PREGNANT WOMEN AT RISK

Pregnant women in rural areas of Kilifi County are at a risk of losing their lives at birth. The rate of death has drastically increased in the county and women in the rural areas constitute the bigger percentage.

According to county records, more than 200 women die every year due to delivery complications. The information shows that in every 100,000 live births, nearly 500 deaths are reported. That translates to 200 women dying every year in Kilifi County as per a 2013 report.

Experts say most mothers lose their lives due to poor health environments and inaccessible health facilities, due to the long distance patients have to cover to get to them. They also say illiteracy has contributed to the deaths since most expectant mothers do not know when they are due.

 “Most mothers lose their lives due to poor health environment. Most dispensaries in the rural and interior parts of the county are situated too far for the pregnant mothers to access when they go into labor.” Said Kashero wa Chinyika currently working with Moment Trust Kenya (MTK) during the County Integrated Development Program (CIDP) discussion forum, sponsored by Action Aid Kenya and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI).

 He added that Most of the mothers do not know when the labor pain is due. This makes it very hard for relatives to get the patient to the health facilities on time.

In a move to see the problem solved, Bunge la Mwananchi Kilifi County has urged the County Government to take an initiative to ensure that health facilities located in the interior and rural parts of the county are staffed, equipped and fully operational in order to save more lives.

Wa Chinyaka highlighted some of the health facilities in the interior part of the county which are not operating at all, such as the Shomela Health Centre in Magarini which has been converted into chiefs’ offices.

According to Wa Chinyaka, some dispensaries which were built by the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) are not operating, including Karimboni, Boresingwaya, Magarini, Mizijini, Shomela, Gandini, Mulunguni, Mtoroni, Mjanaheri, Kadzandani, Chamari and Katendewa in Magarini Sub County.