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 said the ministry had activated disaster response protocols and was working closely with the Nairobi County Government to support ongoing rescue efforts.
Speaking during a visit to the scene on Saturday morning, Muthoni said medical personnel from referral facilities had been mobilised to reinforce the county’s response, while nearby health facilities had been put on standby to receive anyone requiring urgent medical attention.
The ministry is also coordinating with emergency response agencies to ensure that anyone rescued alive receives prompt treatment.
Muthoni cautioned members of the public who may wish to assist at the scene against engaging in rescue or medical activities without the necessary training, warning that uncoordinated interventions could expose them and others to additional risks.
She urged untrained volunteers to keep away from the rescue operation or wait for instructions from the teams coordinating the response.
In collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross, the ministry has also established support stations at the scene to provide medical assistance and psychosocial support to families and relatives anxiously waiting for news about their loved ones.
A separate desk has been set up to facilitate contact tracing and help coordinate information as rescue teams continue their work.
The ministry has appealed to affected families to remain calm and allow the agencies involved sufficient time to carry out rescue operations and establish the situation.
Muthoni further called on public health officers to remain vigilant in identifying and reporting occupational safety hazards in buildings under construction, stressing the importance of timely action to prevent similar incidents.
Members of the public who have been gathering to watch the rescue operation have also been urged to maintain a safe distance from the scene to avoid interfering with emergency teams and exposing themselves to danger.
