Teenager who spent 18 hours with ambulance patient receives award

Brian Ochieng Odhiambo, a paramedic who spent 18 hours in an ambulance attending to a patient because he could not get admission at a hospital, has been honoured.

He received a standing ovation during the Association of Kenya Insurers road safety awards ceremony held at the Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi on Thursday.

The public service transport sector, which is seen as chaotic, also received several honours.

The award for the best-managed bus fleet award went to Tahmeed Coach, while Insyder Bus Services and Climax Coaches were the first and second runners-up, respectively, in that category.

The first award for the best-managed mini-buses went to Chania Travellers while Triple S Services and Acacia Ventures were first and second runners-up, respectively, in the same category.

Raha Express emerged the winner in the best-managed matatus (9-13 seater) category, beating Nyeri Shuttle, which scooped second position, and NNK Shuttle emerged third.

The Catholic Diocese of Kitui won in the best intuitional buses category followed by Bondo University, while Juja Preparatory School got third position.

The Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology and Top Gear won in the best driving school category.

Of all the winners, only Brian got a standing ovation from the audience and a hearty clap for his dedication in ensuring that Mr Alex Madaga, an accident victim who later died, was able to breathe while waiting for 18 hours to get admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

A COMMENDABLE JOB
Mr Madaga was kept waiting because KNH did not have an Intensive Care Unit bed.

Brian, 18, a student at St Johns Ambulance, works for Swift Paramedics Ambulance Services.

Swift Paramedics also received an award for its work in rescuing road-crash victims.

“I am very proud of this award, but I am still traumatised by the Madaga issue,” said the excited teenager on Thursday.

“Those were very many hours for him to have been kept waiting before he finally got help,” he said of Mr Madaga.

He added that they sought help in at least five hospitals, but some asked for money first before they could admit the accident victim while others, such as KNH and Nairobi Women’s Hospital, said the did not have a vacant ICU bed.

However, Brain’s interview with the Nation was abruptly cut short after one of his colleagues whispered to him, “You’ve got a call”, only for the young man to dash out to the giant tent where the ceremony was being held to attend to another emergency.

Others who were honoured for their road safety advocacy were matatu driver Josephat Mwangi and his conductor James Njau for their dedication in assisting disabled people.

Mr Mwangi and Mr Njau have been transporting staff from the National Council of Persons with Disability offices on Waiyaki Way to Kinoo and to the city centre at no extra fee.

ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Taifa Leo cartoonist Wycliffe Otieno, also known as “Wycotie”, was also honoured for his road safety advocacy through his work.

Taifa Leo, aNation Media Group publication,is Kenya’s only national Swahili newspaper.

National Transport and Safety Authority chairman Lee Kinyanjui, who was the chief guest, said over 85 per cent of road accidents are due to human error.

He said as of November 10, 2,574 Kenyans had died in road crashes while 3,929 were critically injured.

Mr Kinyajui said the number of the critically injured this year has gone down by 10 per cent compared with last year, when the number stood at 4,374.

“On average, over 3,000 people lose their lives in road crashes in Kenya every year, (and) over 15,000 are injured, some of them critically,” said the chairman.

“Crashes happen because road users have disregarded simple traffic regulations,” he added.

For his part, Association of Kenya Insurers chairman Justus Mutiga said last year, the industry paid Sh21.5 billion in road crash-related claims.

Mr Kinyanjui said the authority has launched the “Fika Intact” (arrive intact) campaign to help curb road crashes during the December festive season.