The Senate Health Committee has raised concern over Nyahururu County Referral Hospital’s inability to handle medical solid waste.

The three-member team of the committee found heap of hazardous medical waste piled near a broken incinerator.

Members of the committee Richard Onyonka (pictured), Haminda Kibwana and Mariam Sheikh Omar who were on an oversight mission called for more infrastructural funding to the hospital to cater for the rising number of patients from neighbouring counties of Baringo, Samburu, Nakuru and Nyandarua.

Mariam, the committee’s chair, said there should be collaboration between national government and county government of Laikipia to ensure funding is boosted to enhance service delivery in the hospital.

The nominated Mandera County Senator also called for grants to the hospital to fast-track its upgrading which she said the team will ensure is captured in its report.

However, the chair noted some challenges facing the hospital including staffing, capacity of the morgue as well as availability of affordable drugs.

She was however impressed by service in the maternity wing and commended the staff for providing top notch care to the mothers and their babies.

Onyonka pointed out the weakest link in the hospital is the challenge of disposal of hazardous waste as well as lack of drugs.

“This is unacceptable,” Onyonka said after encountering the waste heaps.

However, Onyonka said the service delivery and general condition of the Referral Hospital is above average.

Nominated Lamu County Senator Hamida on her part called for the government and the hospital to give waiver to mothers detained in the hospital for being unable to foot hospital bills.

She noted that detaining the mothers and their young ones can lead to infections to not only the infants but also their mothers due to high number of patients.

“Some owe the hospital accumulated bills of Sh30,000 and continued detaining them is causing congestion leading to sharing of beds,” she observed.