Hospital suspends some operations, prioritises gunshot wounds patients

Homa Bay CECM for Health Roselyn Omollo (middle) and Caroline Adongo (far right) were attending to a patient who suffered gunshot wound at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital. Homa Bay Teaching and Referral hospital had to suspend surgical operations to serve people who were injured during protests on Thursday. [James Omoro, Standard]

Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital had to suspend normal surgical operations to serve people who were injured during today's protests.

This came after 11 people were hospitalized after sustaining injuries during demonstrations held in Homa Bay Town.

Nine people had bullet wounds while two were injured in a stampede.

"We have received eleven patients who have been injured in the demonstrations. They are being attended to," Homa Bay CECM for Health Roselyn Omollo told the media.

Omollo said they had to suspend other surgeries in the hospital to attend to those who sustained gunshot wounds.

"Thursday is surgery day in this hospital. But we have decided to suspend the other surgeries to attend to victims of gunshots because their situations are dire," Omollo said.

On Tuesday, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said her administration will pay the cost of medication for people injured in the demonstrations.

This comes as the civil society in Homa Bay urged the police to avoid using excessive force on protestors.

Homa Bay Civil Society Network Secretary General Lyon Achieng and Homa Bay County Bunge la Wenye Nchi head Walter Opiyo said the demonstrations should be peaceful.

They urged both police and the youth who are demonstrating to avoid physical confrontations which can lead to injuries or loss of lives.

"We do not want cases of injuries and loss of lives to occur. We call for tolerance during the demonstration," Achieng said.