NAIROBI, September 22 – Fifty patients, who had been rushed to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) following a gas leak at Mlolongo on Saturday, have been discharged.
KNH Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jotham Micheni Monday said that all the patients were treated without charge and only two were still admitted to the facility.
“One of the patients has chest pains and we don’t want to take any chances, while the second patient is 27 weeks pregnant and we want to give her a chance so that should any complications arise we deal with them while at the hospital,” Dr Micheni said.
Public Health Minister Beth Mugo revealed that though they had determined there was no radiation effect, they were waiting for a report from the government chemist to determine what kind of gas it was, for relevant action. She however could not tell how soon the report would be compiled.
“I have talked to the government chemist and he assured me that it will be very soon. I am not going to give you the deadline but as soon as I get the report I will definitely make it public,” she assured.
The Minister added that Public Health officers were on the ground to investigate whether there could be any more gas cylinders that are dangerous and appealed to the Ministry of Industrialisation to relocate such businesses from residential areas.
“They should take place in business areas so that not many people get harmed should such an accident occur again,” Mugo said.
She further appealed to all scrap metal dealers to ensure that what they were dealing with would not endanger those in their neighbourhood.
“I will invite a technical team from the other line ministries like industrialisation so that we can come up with a strategy on how to make sure that our people are not endangered in any way by these businesses.”
Meanwhile, Mugo said that the government was working tirelessly to ensure health facilities were improved and quality service is delivered. This came in the wake of media reports that conditions in government-run hospitals were worsening – with congestion as the major issue.
“It’s not our wish that anyone should be sleeping on the floor but until we have enough facilities we cannot say that we will only admit those who can fit the bed capacity,” she reasoned.
“Its better when they are getting treatment.”
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