Mishra pushing for emergency health unit along accident-prone highway

National Assembly Health Committee Vice Chairperson Dr Swarup Mishra(right)Kenyatta National hospital CEO Lily Koross(centre) and Parliamentary health committee member Gladwel Cheruiyot addressing the press at Kenyatta National Hospital on 31/1/18-[ Photo:Beverlyne Musili,Standard]

A member of parliament has proposed setting up emergency health unit on highway as a way of reducing accident-related deaths.

Plans are underway for the establishment of a multi-million-shilling emergency unit on the Eldoret-Nakuru highway.

National Assembly Health committee vice chairperson Swarup Mishra (Kesses) said discussions with stakeholders were at an advanced stage.

He said time was always critical in saving persons injured in accidents and that the unit would be instrumental in reducing long distance to health facilities.

Black spots

Speaking at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) on Monday after visiting four accident victims at the facility, the MP said: “We have been in talks with MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Wilson Aruasa on the need to establish the facility between Kapkoi, Bayete and Kerita, which is one of the accident black spots. We want to set up the facility on a five-acre piece of land”.

Although he did not mention the cost and when the project would commence, Dr Mishra stated that the facility would have an Intensive Care Unit with six bed capacity, along with 10 beds for High Dependency Unit, one theater and two ambulances.

He said that would enable quick administration of lifesaving treatment, especially with the existence of critical care staff.

He said MTRH had agreed to provide personnel stationed at the facility once it was set up.