The county government of Vihiga has defended itself over the handling of a motorcycle accident victim, who succumbed while receiving treatment at Vihiga County Referral Hospital (VCRH).
According to reports, the deceased, Joy Annette Kabarika, was rushed to the facility on Saturday, September 14, while in critical condition before she succumbed to serious injuries on Monday.
Ms Kabarika’s death has been trending on various social media platforms with several bloggers and users pointing accusing fingers at the county’s department of health.
However, briefing members of the press, on Monday, at the county referral hospital, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Dr Amos Kutwa, sought to set records straight and absolved health workers from allegations circulating in public.
The CEC instead blamed Digital Medical Centre, a private hospital based in Chavakali town, for Kabarika’s death.
Confirmed reports indicated the deceased was first rushed to Digital Medical Centre, where efforts to save her life were futile before she was transferred to the county referral hospital in Mbale town.
Dr Kutwa said the deceased was rushed and admitted at the facility where necessary medical procedures were carried in an attempt to save her life.
“The late Ms. Kabarika, a victim of motorbike accident was brought in on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 9pm by well-wishers from Digital Medical Centre in Chavakali ,” said Kutwa.
According to the medic, the viral video clip was not shot at the VCRH but at Chavakali’s Digital Medical Centre.
“We have since established that the viral video that has been circulating on social media of Annette Kabarika being denied essential emergency services was not shot at the VCRH. The incident was captured at a private medical facility identified as Digital Medical Centre in Chavakali,” explained Kutwa.
Kutwa clarified the deceased was accorded professional medical care while at the VCRH, “where her injuries were properly diagnosed and documented,” he added.
He dismissed claims that the deceased had been denied CT-Scan services after failing to raise Shs.4,500, saying X-Ray scans findings provided adequate information for a medical diagnostic conclusion.
“While a CT-Scan would have provided more details on the extent of the patient’s injuries, however it was not deemed an emergency,” noted Dr. Kutwa.
He added: “Therefore, the notion that Ms Kabarika was denied CT-Scan services because she could not raise Sh 4,500 was misguided and inflammatory.
According to the county health boss, the late had been booked for surgery at a time when doctors working on her had deemed fit.
He took the opportunity and appealed to medical staff to execute its duties with due diligence to enable county residents enjoy the best health services.
Kutwa expressed regret over Kabarika’s death and at the same time extended the county government’s heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and friends of the late.
Most of the posts shared on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and other online platforms, which have many followers from Vihiga County, have attributed Kabarika’s death to sheer neglect by doctors and nurses at VCRH.
Since Kabarika’s demise, online media has been awash with a viral video clip showing how the late was denied emergency services by who the bloggers claimed were medical staff at VCRH.