KNH appeals for blood as injured students airlifted

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Doctors attend to Christine Ososi of Itibo Girls at Kisii Level Five Hospital July 10, 2013. She was among the over seventy students involved in a road accident that claimed the lives of 14 on the Itumbe-Nyamache road. The injured were airlifted to Nairobi July 11, 2013. TOM OTIENO 

By NATION Reporter
Posted  Thursday, July 11  2013 at  13:05

Kenyatta National Hospital has appealed to Kenyans to donate blood as it prepares to receive 16 patients injured in the Kisii bus accident.

Corporate Affairs and Communication Manager Simon Ithai told the Nation that the hospital uses over 200 pints of blood in a day and its appeal was necessary to "complement" what KNH has in its blood bank.

He said a competent team was on stand by to receive the students, five of whom are critical.

"We have put in place a multi disciplinary team to address the patients' need including neurosurgeons, spine specialists and orthopaedic surgeons," said Mr Ithai.

He said two students had suffered spinal injuries, two were nursing head injuries and one had multiple fractures.

The learners were injured after the Rioma Secondary School bus in which they were travelling in rolled in Kisii County Wednesday.

They were part of a team headed for inter-school team games.

Earlier Thursday, President Kenyatta directed the Interior Ministry to airlift students involved in the Kisii accident to Nairobi for treatment.

The President ordered Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku to take charge of the operation to airlift the injured students to KNH.

In the directive communicated by Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia, the President said the government will foot hospital fees.

"The president has ordered the airlifting of the students from Kisii to Nairobi. Mr Lenku should liaise with Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia to ensure the victims are taken care off," said Mr Kimemia.

He said the government will assist the bereaved families.