Photo: Empty beds at Kocholia Subcounty Referral Hospital
In-Patient services at Kocholia Subcounty Referral Hospital have been suspended for two weeks now after over 30 casual workers down their tools demanding unpaid salaries for 10 months.
This action has resulted in the paralysis of medical services to over 50,000 residents across the Teso-North sub-county and neighbouring Sub County. The consequences of this can be witnessed at the entrance of the maternity ward, where one is welcomed with an unpleasant smell emitting from unemptied dustbins, blood splashing on the floor unwashed beddings are clear evidence of no services at the facility as both male and female wards remain closed.
In a statement by Fredrick Oleket the chairperson for casual workers at the level 4 hospital he stated that it had been over 10 months now since they last saw any payment in their accounts despite them having offered services to the county wholeheartedly.
Oleket noted that they decided to down their tools following numerous unfulfilled promises from the county government of Busia something that has pushed them into abject poverty at these hard economic times.
The sentiment was echoed by Ben Baraza, a cook who added that he can no longer support the life of his family as working for ten months from 6:30 am in the morning till late at night without a single pay has inconvenienced his programs at home.
Baraza said he is ready to quit once paid his full dues and seek a new challenge elsewhere.
Mary Odioi a mother of 5 and a widow narrates how she has been forced to relocate back to his village at Nambale after the landlord locked her family out over outstanding rent arrears.
Confirming the incident the hospital administrator Bonface Odikor said they have suspended in-patience services due to the conditions in the facility and they can only offer emergency services and out-patience.