Predicaments of residents of Turkana West Sub-county in burying their loved ones will be a thing of the past after the government, through the Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (KDRDIP), embarked on upgrading the Kakuma Sub-county Hospital.The project entails construction of a mortuary, upgrading a Maternity wing among other services.
KDRDIP County Coordinator, Humphrey Amoni, said the upgrade will save residents the cost they incurred by transporting patients to Lodwar and Eldoret.
“The major investment is the construction of a Mortuary, Medical Laboratory, Incinerator, Maternity and also equipping the same facility to serve the entire Turkana West Sub- county,” said Amoni.
Kakuma Member of County Assembly (MCA), James Ekaran said the morgue is a relief for the residents and it would save them expenses incurred transporting bodies to Lodwar, 120 km away.
“We have been experiencing challenges as leaders because we have to dig into our pockets to support families pay for morgue services and transportation costs to Lodwar County Referral Hospital mortuary,” he said.
Paul Esekon, a resident of Kakuma, said the plan by KDRDIP is a welcome move as it will cushion the common mwananchi from the expenses they would incur to look for such services outside the area.
“Many people die because of lack of access to adequate medicare, during all these the common mwananchi suffers too much and if there is no mortuary to keep the body as burial plans take place,” said Esekon.
Philemon Ngasike, who hails from Kakuma, pleaded with the government to Fast-track the project.
By Peter Gitonga and Ekuwam Sylvester
