Security guard arrested with stolen hospital equipment

A night guard at Migori County Referral Hospital has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of equipment at the county’s leading hospital.
Migori police who were acting on a tip off from the public, recovered equipment and supplies worth Sh.4 million which had been stolen from the county hospital.
Police officers trailed the guard to his home on December 31 at 11pm where they arrested him and recovered the equipment.
Among the equipment that had been stolen are an X-ray machine, theatre sanitary equipment, a fridge, TV set, computer and several plastic chairs.
The guard will be brought before court after investigations are complete.
Senior medical officials at the hospital confirmed the equipment were from the hospital and have since recorded statements with police.
“Security firms employing guards should run security checks with police to avoid similar incidents later,” he said.
Migori Governor Okoth Obado has been on the record for complaining that drugs and equipment meant for public hospitals in the county are sold off by staff in neighbouring Tanzania.
Governor Obado also said corruption at the Migori County Referral hospital, the biggest public hospital in the county, was rife noting even a corpse from the morgue “can be smuggled outside the hospital after payment of only Shs. 50 bribe at the gate”
On April 8, 2016 during distribution of medicine at the facility the governor shocked the public with the statement.
“Bwana chief officer I can table some evidence to show that corpses can be smuggled outside the hospital for only Ksh50 at the gate. This must stop,” he said.
The governor promised to fast track the installation of electronic stock control machines for equipment and medicine to avoid pilferages and theft but is yet to be achieved.
By Geoffrey Satia