Molo fire: Indian doctors arrive to boost treatment

Two of the five Indian doctors who will assist in the treatment of victims of the Molo fire disaster are now in the country.

The surgery specialists, Dr Ravi Narayan and Dr Sameek Bhattacharya, arrived on Wednesday. They are expected to proceed to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital where most of the survivors are admitted.

The experts are expected to offer much-needed medical treatment to the survivors, who are currently fighting for their lives. The Indian Government also provided drugs and dressing materials.

Surgery experts

The other three reconstructive surgery experts are expected to arrive in the country later today to boost treatment, according to India’s deputy high commissioner, Dr Ketan Shukla.

As he welcomed the doctors at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Medical Services permanent secretary, Prof James Ole Kiyiapi, said the country was facing a serious shortage of both doctors and nurses, as well as medical facilities.

Prof Kiyiapi said the severity of the burns necessitated the request for surgery experts. “There is a shortage of medical personnel in the country. The magnitude of the burns sustained calls for expert assistance to quickly treat them,” said the PS.

He said a total of 133 victims were still undergoing treatment at various medical institutions, including the Rift Valley General Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital.

He thanked the Indian Government for responding to Kenya’s appeal for medical assistance. More than 100 people were killed when an overturned oil tanker they were trying to scoop oil from burst into flames at Sachang’wan in Molo on Saturday night.

Another 180 were admitted to hospitals, some in intensive care units (ICUs) and high dependency units (HDUs). The tragedy came a few days after fire gutted Nakumatt Downtown supermarket.