An acute water shortage has hit Rachuonyo South Sub County Hospital in Oyugis Town thus exposing the lives of expectant women delivering at the facility to poor hygienic conditions.
The facility has gone without the essential commodity for the last fortnight after the contractor on the Ahero-Kisii road vandalized water pipes.
The patients seeking health services at the health facility especially mothers who deliver babies in the maternity wing have had difficulties due to the water crisis which has hit the facility.
A resident whose family member went to deliver at the facility over the weekend revealed to KNA that they were forced to go back home to fetch water that the patient could use in the hospital after she delivered.
She alleged that expectant mothers have had difficulties in washing used bedding due to lack of water, adding that the new born babies are bathed using dirty water drawn from rivers in the area.
Led by former Oyugis Town mayor, Tom Midigo, the residents lamented that they are now forced to consume raw water from rivers due to the current water shortage witnessed in the area, saying that they risk contracting water borne diseases should the problem persist.
Contacted for comments, Homa Bay County Executive Committee member for Water and Environment Dickson Nyawinda said that the hospital management never raised the issue at appropriate time, however,the situation is being contained and they have already sent water bowser to supply safe water at the facility.
Nyawinda further attributed the water shortage to breakdown of water pipes which were destroyed during the ongoing construction of Ahero –Kisii road which passes through Oyugis town saying the broken pipes will be rectified in the next three weeks.
On his part the CEC member in charge of heath Prof.Richard Muga said that they were also working on distributing water from a borehole which had been dug in the facility some time back.
By Alloyce Kagame / Davis Langat
