Residents of Kaloleni can now sigh with relief after the Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro announced a take over of the once vibrant St Lukes Hospital that is currently on its knees.
The hospital which has for decades been under the management of the Anglican Church of Kenya,Mombasa Diocese is currently facing a myriad of problems that have curtailed it’s service delivery to the residents.
At its peak, the hospital was a referral to Mariakani and Kilifi county hospital and served residents from as far as Chonyi and Rabai. But now the once active health factory has been run down with no proper health service delivery.
Apart from offering low quality health services , the hospital has witnessed an ownership battle between the community and the ACK Church over its management after the church lease of the church expired.
The battle for ownership sealed the fate of this facility and during a visit by the governor to see facility, he was equally shocked by the sorry state of affairs at the facility and was taken aback by the situation.
At the entrance, two rotting ambulances are packed, a stark reminder of the good olden days. A maternity care wagon puller has also been abandoned with dilapidated buildings with cracks showing in almost every corner of the facility.
Some parts of the hospital have been overgrown by grass, a clear indication that it was abandoned many years ago. The building housing the kitchen is a total mess and the structures at the maternity wing speak of a once vibrant but now a dilapidated centre.
However all in all, the facility still offer both in and out patients services but at a minimal rate.
After touring the hospital, the Governor accompanied by Kaloleni MP Paul Katana, Kaloleni MCA Birya Fondo and Mwanamwinga MCA Dr Edward Ziro said there was urgency to have the facility taken over by the county government so that it can be re-modelled and established afresh by the devolved government.
Governor Mung’aro assured the residents that the county wil take charge of its operations bit added that the ACK church will not be completely sidelined in its running.
“The plan is clear. We are going to take charge of this facility and run it as a county. But we shall still talk with the ACK Bishop in Mombasa to see if there is an area they can also think of work on. Let us remember that they are part of our society even though the lease for running the centre ended,” he said.
Mr Katana supported the community push for the ownership of the land and said that he will make sure the title deed comes back to the county government.
“I have been ridiculed about this hospital by the people although we clearly understand that it is a county program. However as a leader and understanding the history of the ownership wrangle, I want to assure the residents that as a member of the national assembly committee on Lands, I will make sure the title comes to the county government.
One of the residents Amos Tumaini said the church was not the holder of the hospital anymore but had clinged to it even after the lease had expired
Mr Fondo and Dr Ziro equally asked the Governor to hasten the process of acquiring the management of the hospital so that the locals can now see improved services.
