Probe hospital floor collapse, Nyong’o orders

Construction workers on-site at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral hospital. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Investigations have been launched at Nyanza’s largest referral hospital after a section under construction, collapsed.

The construction was at the Linton 100-bed capacity ward at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The second phase of expansion of the ward aims at raising the facility’s status to level six.  Yesterday, patients occupying male and female wards were being moved to a new unit meant for Covid-19 patients.

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o expressed concern over the incident and ordered county public works engineers to launch a probe into the incident.

The facility’s Director of Finance and Administration Alex Ochieng described the incident as unfortunate.

Sunday Standard established that on February 22, public works engineers recommended demolition of the concrete gutter section at the back of the building which had been poorly done.

The hospital’s acting Chief Executive Officer Dr George Rae confirmed that no one was injured while assuring staff and patients of their safety within the facility.

“The investigations have been launched and necessary precautions put in place to ensure safety of staff and our clients,” Rae said.