Torture as lack of syringes rock Kirinyaga hospital during COVID-19 vaccine uptake exercise

By , K24 Digital
On Mon, 16 Aug, 2021 19:35 | 2 mins read
People lining up for COVID-19 jab a t Kibimbi hospital. PHOTO/RICHARD MUGO

There was an outcry at the Kîmbîmbî Sub County Hospital in Kirinyaga county following an alleged shortage of syringes.

Mwea Constituency residents who had flocked the health facility to receive COVID-19 jab were shocked when they were informed by an official that there was a shortage of the medical tool.

The residents who arrived at the facility as early as 6 am protested demanding an explanation on the same.

"They should explain to us why there are vaccines at the facility yet no enough syringes," said Agnes Warigia, a resident.

She added that she arrived at the facility at the crack of dawn and was kept waiting for hours.

"Given my old age, I am at risk of dying from Covid-19 if infected and that is why I came for the vaccination but we have not been served yet," said an elderly lady.

They wondered why there would be delays in offering the vaccine, a delay that led to people crowding.

"They are telling us not to crowd yet they are the ones forcing us. We only came here to be vaccinated but crowding here puts all of us at a greater risk," said Charles Ngugi.

However, an official from the department of health who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that area residents arrived at the health facility in large numbers hence the challenges.

"We are receiving so many people who want to get vaccinated but I would like to request members of the public to be patient in case a challenge arises," the source said.

The hospital manager Steven Murimi has however said that the issue has been resolved while denying that there was a syringe shortage.

"There were so many people who came to seek the jab and therefore we had to get a spacious place within the facility to avoid overcrowding. We have managed to inject over 200 people today and we are requesting our people to come for the jab as our facility is fully stocked," he said.

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