Hospital to put up emergency unit in memory of Wanjiru

The late world marathon champion Samuel Wanjiru died after allegedly falling from the balcony of his Nyahururu house in 2011.  [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

 

By JAMES MUNYEKI

KENYA: An accident and emergency unit is set to be constructed at the Nyahururu District Hospital in honour of the late star marathoner Samuel Wanjiru.

The facility, estimated to cost over Sh200 million, is envisaged to cater for accident victims and offer exceptional skills in emergency life support, advance trauma life support, critical care nursing and well-equipped trauma unit.

The project is geared towards serving life, which would otherwise be lost in absence of such a critical facility.

According to the project steering committee, the idea came about after the late Wanjiru died at the hospital as doctors made frantic efforts to resuscitate him after he allegedly fell from the balcony of his house in Nyahururu’s Muthaiga Estate on May 15, 2011.

James Mwangi, chairman of the institution’s management board said the accident and emergency unit would be built in three phases.

He said the project was also inspired by the rising cases of accidents within the region. He said the hospital had already set aside Sh1 million to kick off the plan and called on well-wishers and other stakeholders to join hands in ensuring its success.

He noted that on its completion, the facility would help reduce referrals to other hospitals and further address critical medical issues.

His sentiments were echoed by the project’s resource mobilisation steering committee chairman Michael Mugo who observed that the initiative that started last year has kicked off with support from the hospital, the community around Nyahururu, both local and international athletics fraternity, among others.

Donations

Mugo said they had already received a commitment and donation from Canada for equipment worth over 70 million Canadian dollars.

He added that the Kenyan Red Cross had paid for their shipment to the country and the donations would be arriving soon.

 He added that a major fundraising is set for August for the same project that will be accompanied by a half marathon competition.

Service delivery

Speaking to the Press after a fundraising dinner, Nyahururu Medical Superintendent Dr Lawrence Kamande further noted the completion of the facility would ease service delivery and also make it possible to implement disaster management plans so that in case of an accident, there will be clear guidelines on what should happen and how to resuscitate lives before referring the patients for further medical attention.

The dinner brought together athletes from around the region, members of the business community, and political leaders, among other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the family of the late marathoner is set to hold a memorial service on May 15 and also unveil Kamau Wanjiru mausoleum at his Gatimu farm. Plans are underway for the ceremony with the family saying that further details would be announced later.