Hospital appeals for more blankets and blood to save lives

More than 100 survivors of the Sinai slum fire tragedy are being treated for severe burns at Kenyatta National Hospital.

The hospital’s chief executive, Mr Richard Lesiyampe, said most of them suffered third degree burns.

Four other patients were admitted to Mater Hospital and another to Metropolitan Hospital.

A doctor at the referral hospital who requested not to be named as they are not authorised to speak to journalists warned that patients with over 65 per cent burns might succumb to their injuries.

On average, majority of the patients had sustained between 30 and 70 per cent burns.

Mr Lesiyampe said the tragedy had stretched resources and facilities at the hospital due to the large number of patients.

“We take this as a disaster. Any number above 60, from a single incident we declare it a disaster. I ask for support from Kenyans. We appeal for blood donations and we also need blankets,” he said at the Casualty Ward.

By 1.30pm, 112 survivors had been received at the hospital and counting.

Specialist care

Some of the survivors arrived at the hospital in ambulances while others were brought in by good Samaritans in their private cars.

“After the first aid the doctors are busy examining the patients. They are accessing the possibility of discharging some of them. Others will remain with us for further medical attention,” said Mr Lesiyampe.

He said the influx of patients did not catch them off guard, adding that some nurses were recalled from leave to attend to the patients.

“We received information at 10am. We were alerted that we should expect patients with burns. We put in motion our disaster management team.”

Police and security guards cordoned off the casualty and only nurses, doctors and journalists were let through.

At Mater Hospital, four men were admitted with severe burns, and six others were given emergency treatment then referred to KNH.

Doctors warned that patients with severe burns should be attended to in the ICU, but there was no space there.

“We would be doing a disservice to the patients by keeping them in the wards. They need to be watched keenly so that if they develop any complications they could easily be assisted,” said Accidents and Emergency (A&E) coordinator and consultant surgeon Dr Dan Ochiel.

Three other victims were taken to Mbagathi District Hospital, stabilised and later referred to KNH.

The hospital’s medical superintendent Andrew Suleh said they could not keep the patients longer in the facility because they don’t have a burns unit.

The unit consist of an ICU and IDU which cost about Sh60 million for its set up.