Newly sworn-in Isiolo governor, Abdi Guyo, has issued a stern warning to doctors and healthcare workers attached to the county's healthcare and hospitals after he made an impromptu visit to Isiolo County Referral Hospital.
Guyo - during his Thursday night, August 25 visit - was surprised to find that most of the doctors were not at their places of work during normal working hours.
He stated that he deliberately visited the hospital at night and was shocked to find that there were no doctors on duty and the pharmacy was closed despite patients waiting to be attended to.
"As part of service delivery check-up, made an impromptu visit at the county referral hospital this evening at around 10 minutes to mid-night," governor Guyo stated.
"After a lengthy assessment of all critical emergency departments at the hospital, It was saddening to note that only one doctor was on duty, despite a good number being assigned in various work stations, especially the casualty department. I further discovered that the pharmacy department was closed and no employee was at the facility."
Guyo maintained that his administration will not condone unethical behaviour at work and especially in the health sector.
"I have issued directives to the Isiolo County Teaching and Referral Hospital Medical Superintendent and the current CEC health to compile a list of health workers who were supposed to be on duty but deliberately absconded for immediate disciplinary action," he added.
The County Referral Hospital has made headlines over suspected poor services. In 2020, a technical team from the Ministry of Health carried out an assessment of the situation at the hospital following public outcry over the delivery of services at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The technical team from the national government also toured the Isolation Ward, General Ward, Oxygen Plant, CT-Scan, Bio-safety laboratory, Pharmacy, Renal Unit, New Born Unit and Incinerator among other installations at the Hospital.
The county's leaders had made an appeal for the closure of the hospital temporarily after two patients, succumbed to Covid-19 complications while being taken to Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital for ICU services.
The county administration, however, maintained that the ICU was set up at the KMTC Isiolo campus due to a lack of space.
According to the leadership of the time, the hospital had been delivering quality services and they accused political players of fighting the devolved government.
Former governor, Mohamed Kuti, urged members of the public to disregard sensational remarks by politicians and instead build confidence in the public facility.
