Officials in Isiolo TB Manyatta, where patients are quarantined, have begun repairs on a blocked sewerage system to forestall a threatened closure of the premises.

Patients admitted at the institution were forced to defecate in the overgrown grass due to lack of toilets and latrines after the sewerage system blocked some months ago.

Sources say that some patients were discharged secretly after this threat of closure was given. He said as a result, some of the patients discharged prematurely were still stranded in Isiolo town despite their poor health status since they come from distant places.

Isiolo District Public Health Officer Richard Lusah confirmed that his office had issued an order to close down the institution due to the blocked sewerage system and over grown grass all over.

He said the institution was in a pathetic state and stood firm that the order to close the premises remains until the sewerage system is repaired and the grass cut short.

Controversy has been looming between health officials and officials at the institution who are demanding that public health officials lift the order to close the institution.

The management says that the order should be lifted because they have hired youths to repair the system and cut the grass as ordered. Isiolo TB Manyatta acts as referral for TB patients from Northern Kenya including Samburu,Moyale,Marsabit and the larger Isiolo district