Boda boda victims flock hospitals

Monday, 23 May 2011 00:09 BY REUBEN GITHINJI

 Half of patients in surgical wards  admitted in hospitals in Eastern province are victims of  road accidents involving boda boda taxis. Eastern Province Director of Medical Services (PDMS) Dr Gedion Mburu says the rate of boda boda accidents in the province was alarming.
   The medic said at least every hospital in the area handles a boda boda accident case or two every day in the province. He said the province has over 54 hospitals exclusive of the smaller health institutions of the levels of dispensaries, health centers amongst others.
   Dr Mburu said that by only focusing on the bigger hospitals on average, the province handles not less than 54 boda boda accidents daily in the region.
   He said before the entry of the motorcycles in the transport industry, hospitals in the province did not use to cater for the large number of accident patients compared to the current situation.
   The medic suggested that a lot of awareness and road safety training of motorcycle operators ought to be done to reduce the accidents, save lives and prevent the daily injuries.
   He was speaking at the Kigari Primary Teachers Training College during its community health open day. During the camp co- sponsored by the college and Teachers Education Professional Development (TEPD),  residents were treated for various diseases, Tested for HIV Aids, counseled and screened for cancer. Students and residents also donated blood.
   A youth-friendly centre where the local youth will be voluntarily tested for HIV aids and counseled on various life issues was opened in the college. He said boda boda operators should change their attitude and understand that they handle human beings’ lives and thus take proper training.
   He also lamented that a substantial number of the boda boda operators abuse miraa which also contribute greatly to the boda boda road accidents.
   The medic said drug abuse, like miraa should be stopped by the youth for sake of their health.  He said his department values such community health days conducted by the college asking more public institutions to emulate them to educate communities on health issues and also assist them with free treatment.
   The college principal Naomi Kamotho asked the government to expand the college dispensary to effectively serve the students and the locals instead of going to the Embu provincial general hospital which is far.