Congestion, malfunctioning equipment, and critical staff shortages are crippling the health sector in Baringo County. Public health facilities across the region are facing mounting scrutiny, with residents expressing growing frustration and despair over what they view as a failed system.
At the heart of the crisis is a rising number of reported negligence cases. One recent example involved a man who succumbed to illness at the county’s main referral hospital after being left unattended for over 12 hours. Despite being in visible distress, he reportedly received no proper treatment due to broken diagnostic equipment and inactive lab services. His family was advised to purchase painkillers out-of-pocket, highlighting the severe dysfunction within the facility.
The challenges begin even before patients reach the hospital. In this case, the man was referred from a smaller health center as an emergency but could not be transported immediately because no ambulance was available. Such cases are becoming disturbingly common in Baringo, pushing patients to seek care in neighboring counties like Elgeyo Marakwet and Nakuru.
Despite earlier promises of reform, the situation appears unchanged. Years ago, a woman visiting the same hospital with her sick child encountered a dismissive attitude from a doctor, leading to a misdiagnosis. The child was later treated at a private facility, revealing the extent of the diagnostic failure. Such experiences of being unheard or disregarded by overwhelmed hospital staff have become routine for many residents.
Baringo County Hospital has also been associated with tragic outcomes. In one reported case, five infants died allegedly due to faulty incubators a grim reminder of the dangers of neglected hospital infrastructure.
Local leaders point to chronic underfunding as the root cause. The county assembly’s deputy speaker highlighted the need for nearly half a billion shillings just to maintain medicine stocks. Health officials acknowledge that the challenge extends nationwide, noting that county hospitals are under-equipped compared to national-level referral facilities.
With inadequate funding, a shortage of specialists, and failing infrastructure, public health facilities in Baringo remain in a state of disrepair. For the residents who rely on these services, the cost is often their lives marking a healthcare system on the brink of collapse unless urgent interventions are made.
