Health care workers at the Lodwar County Referral Hospital have been warned against compromising the quality of health services.
Those targeted include officers who abscond duty by asking colleagues to stand in for them without informing their superiors in what is called ‘local arrangements’ hence creating artificial shortages of staff especially at night when services are needed most by the public.
Turkana County Health Chief Officer Capt. (Rtd) Augustine Lokwang’ during a spot check of the Hospital on Sunday night said such officers would face disciplinary action.
He was accompanied by Director Medical Services Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, Deputy Director Medical Services Dr. Kevin Lomuria, LCRH Deputy Director Administration and Finance Elizabeth Auru and Senior HR Officer Nelson Nakan.
In what appeared to be “reading the riot act” to the staff whose absence from their duty desks could not be explained, Lokwang’ said that the full range of disciplinary measures including but not limited to suspension, interdiction or even sacking will be effected as may be appropriate for each individual case.
The team interacted with staff and clients at the Accident and Emergency unit, Outpatient, Radiology, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Safety and Security sections, Maternity, Surgical and Medical Wards that forms the key points of service delivery in the County’s only Level 4 health facility.
Driven by the need to collect firsthand information following increased complaints from the public over compromised quality of services, the spot check aimed at assessing staff and commodities availability, preparedness of the A&E unit in handling emergencies, general hygiene of the hospital and access to critical services such as x-ray, testing and diagnostic services.
Chief Officer Lokwang’ said that his leadership will fully support the Hospitals’ Administrator Elizabeth Auru in tightening supervision aimed at ensuring presence of staff at all service points as required by international standards in provision of health care services.
At the same time, Lokwang’ appreciated the public for the constant reports on service breaches that informed the spot check.
By Peter Gitonga
