Agency, NHIF to foot bills for Gikomba fire survivors

Survivors of the Gikomba fire disaster who do not have the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cover will have their bills settled from the National Disaster Fund, the government announced on Saturday.

Director of Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Masinde, said the national insurer will, however, settle the bills for their members.

“The government gives us money for disaster preparedness which we use in case of such cases,” Dr Masinde said.

So far, 16 people have died after suffering burns and chocking on poisonous fumes.

Records from the Kenya National Hospital (KNH), according to Dr Peter Masinde, confirmed that they had received 74 patients, including 28 males and 46 females, among them 17 children as at Saturday.

SUCCUMBED TO INJURIES

Five patients succumbed to their injuries at KNH on Thursday. The number rose to six on Friday morning when a child also succumbed to its injuries at the same hospital.

“The number (of those who have died at KNH) has increased to six,” Dr Masinde said, adding that the majority of the patients were treated for anxiety, burns, and soft tissue injuries.

Five patients sustained burns above 30 per cent and were admitted to Intensive Care Unit for specialised treatment.

“The remaining will be discharged as they get better. For those with severe burns, they will be here for a while though they are very stable,” he said

TRACING PATIENTS

"KNH has established an information centre to help relatives in tracing their patients,” Dr Masinde added.

The information desk has helped relatives trace their loved ones to the wards and Chiromo Mortuary where bodies of those who dies are lying

Ms Betty Kaveke, a mother of four, lost two of them in the market fire, while two others are being treated for severe burns at the KNH.