By Betty Luke
Bulapesa residents in Isiolo County have appealed to the county government to expedite upgrading of Bulapesa dispensary to alleviate them from numerous challenges they have been facing seeking health services.
Through the Ward Planning Committee (WPC), the residents lamented the high poverty rate that makes it hard for expectant women to access maternity services forcing them to travel to Isiolo Referral hospital.
The committee spoke while presenting a memorandum to Isiolo County Assembly containing development projects they want the county government to prioritize on.
Ms Mumina Iesa, a committee member, lamented increased cases of maternal deaths due to unavailability of maternity services at the health facility that saw the majority of expectant mothers give birth at their homes and by the roadside.
“Very few families can afford to take their kins to the Referral hospital and as result we have had cases of mothers losing their lives or even their babies,” she said.
Ms Iesa said despite the ward being the most populated in the county, residents were relying on a single health facility putting their lives at risk due to lack of enough drugs and various services.
She urged the government to expedite the process of providing ambulance services, inpatient services and a maternity ward at the facility.
The committee Chairperson Mr Godfrey Gitonga said accessing essential services like fire fighting and ambulance was a challenge due to the deplorable state of the roads.
“Our people cannot access essential services because of the poor state of our roads. The government should come in and upgrade our roads to ease people’s movement and access to crucial services,” said Mr Gitonga.
Isiolo County Assembly Budget Committee Chair also Wabera MCA Abdi Duba chair received the document and promised to ensure the needs were promptly addressed.
“We will consider and evaluate what you have presented to us to ensure your needs are captured in the next budget,” said Mr Duba.
Isiolo County Mercy Corps Program Coordinator Bitacha Sora said the organisation was keen on strengthening communities through establishment of ward planning committees.
Mercy Corps has in partnership with MID-P established ward planning committees in the 10 Isiolo wards with latest being Bulapesa, Burat and Wabera.
