MUR MALANGA HEALTH FACILITY; A BEACON OF HOPE.
Founded in 2009, it is the beacon of hope for the local community to access decent and affordable health care more especially during these turbulent times of the covid 19 pandemic. Mur Malanga dispensary in Alego constituency, is tacked inside the vast Siaya county and serves not only Mur malanga sub-location but also, Nyajuok and Bar Olengo sub-locations. The sheer size of the geographical area hints at the vitality of the facility to the local community.
An impromptu visit at the dispensary reveals its importance in the area: emphasis being on the multitude of area residents who throng the facility for medical check-up, treatment of ailments and also counselling; services offered range from out-patient, inpatient, prenatal, postnatal and HIV & AIDS counselling. All these services are accessible from inside the three modern hospital blocks, clean, equipped and well maintained by the efforts of three professional staff and four casual workers. Initially, it was meant to be a pure county government-funded facility but they became overwhelmed that the assistance of well-wishers became a matter when not how.
Through Mrs Salome Atandi ( NALSA-K member representing the Nyanza caucus) the facility now enjoys level three status after it was installed with a modern maternity wing complete with beds and a maternity wing nurse to boot. Interviewing the facility chairman and a local church leader reveals that women whose delivery day fell after dusk had faced challenges as the facility closed in the evening. With the coming of the maternity wing, it is a cloud with a silver lining for pregnant women in the area. A quick look at some of Nalsa Kenya objectives; To offer a supportive role to our spouses as current or former Members of ParliamentTo enhance socio-economic growth of women, youth & children through grass-root & national efforts to establish partnerships & linkages with organizations with a similar mandate. It is easy to tell that the construction, equipment and overseeing Mur-Malanga health facility presence means area residents no longer have to trek long distances to as far as Siaya town to access modern health care.
The facility in charge, Ms Maureen, lists some of the hospital equipment donated by NALSA Mrs Atandi, which have come in handy in handling common ailments like malaria; a killer tropical disease.
We summarize by chatting with the facility chairman, George Okoth, whose appreciation of the NALSA (K) member’s intervention is vivid. He categorically states that such organizations come in handy to alleviate the pressure of running such a facility from the community and also the county government who hold a similar mandate to tons of other dispensaries. The Fact is without well-wishers such facilities would grind to a halt. All the interviewees hint they look forward to obtaining help to build staff quarters to enable them to offer a twenty-four-hour service: Yes, that’s right, the vision is to serve the community 24 hours. Such selfless acts and determination to serve others inspire organizations like NALSA(K) to strive to be better and impact more lives around the nation. Much appreciation to Mrs Atandi, a NALSA (K) member whose efforts gives the facility hope and determination to serve Mur Malanga and the adjacent communities.
By Anyanzwa Brian.
Photographs and Video by Juelz Laval.