BY RYEKOLAL RAPHIE KAMPALA UGANDA
KENYA-More than 10 people have died of cholera in Narok South District in the past month. Health officials said four people died at Naroosura health centre, another four died at Narok District Hospital and two at Tenwek Mission Hospital in neighbouring Bomet District.

The nursing officer in charge at Naroosura, Gabriel Tongoyo said more than 50 other patients had been treated and discharged.“We are overstretched and I have only six staffers to cover the expansive division bordering the Maasai Mara,” he said.

However, Narok South district health officer Gilbert Toroitich said that although all symptoms pointed to cholera, the disease could be dysentery.

Naroosura ward councillor Stephen ole Kudate said the situation was a disaster. “The number of deaths could be much higher as some sick people cannot get to hospitals as the roads are bad,” Mr Kudate said, adding the worst-hit areas were Langata Nderit, Enkutoto and Naroosura.

In neighbouring Narok North District, medical officer of health Francis Kiio said the disease had been reported in Mosiro area of Kajiado District, which borders Narok to the east.

Meanwhile, a government decision barring provincial hospitals from remitting part of their earnings to health centres has been described as a death knell for primary health care.

In a circular dated March 30, the Medical Services PS, Prof James ole Kiyiapi, instructed provincial medical services directors to stop disbursing 20 per cent of their funds to the centres from April 1.

Also frozen are funds usually channelled to Public Health and Sanitation directors for administrative expenses. “The savings from non-remittance of 20 per cent and 2.5 per cent must be earmarked for payment of bills and procurement of essential drugs,” says the circular.

A Public Health ministry official who cannot be named for fear of reprisals, said the sister ministry’s move would cripple health centres that serve the poor.

“If they take away the funding, the health centres will close down because they hardly generate funds of their own,” he said. The centres provide basic health services at a fee of Sh10 per patient, funds usually used to pay auxiliary staff.
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