The Ministry of Health has established a 24-hour response desk at the scene of a collapsed building in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area to coordinate rescue operations and provide medical support to potential survivors.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni announced the measures during a visit to the scene on Saturday morning, saying the ministry had activated disaster response protocols in collaboration with the Nairobi City County Government.
Muthoni said medical personnel from referral facilities had been deployed to support the county’s response, while health facilities within the vicinity of the incident had been put on standby to receive victims requiring urgent medical attention.
“The Ministry has activated disaster response protocols and is working closely with the county government of Nairobi to support medical response to all those that may still be found alive,” she said.
The ministry also cautioned members of the public against engaging in rescue or medical activities without the necessary skills, urging volunteers to wait for directions from the relevant response teams to avoid exposing themselves and others to further risks.
In collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross, the ministry has established support stations at the scene to provide medical assistance, as well as emotional and psychosocial support to families gathered there in search of information about their loved ones.
A separate desk has also been established to facilitate contact tracing and help coordinate information involving affected families.
Muthoni urged families to remain calm and allow the agencies involved in the rescue operation sufficient time to carry out their work and establish the necessary details.
The ministry further called on Public Health Officers to remain vigilant in monitoring occupational hazards in buildings under construction and to report safety concerns promptly to help prevent similar incidents.
Members of the public who have gathered at the scene to observe the ongoing rescue operations have also been urged to maintain a safe distance to avoid interfering with the work of emergency responders.
The ministry said its response efforts are focused on supporting rescue operations, ensuring medical preparedness and providing assistance to affected families as teams continue working at the scene.
