Panic gripped health workers and patients at Mbale Rural Hospital on Monday after a passenger that had been rushed to the facility for treatment died on arrival.
Mbale Sub County Police Commander, Mr. Patrick Onsando confirmed to the Kenya News Agency the tragic incident which occurred on Monday morning.
According to Onsando, the deceased, Jackson Jumba Kisia, had traveled from Nairobi to his rural home in Vihiga County at the time of the unfortunate incident.
“The deceased with his cousin, Mr. Jackson Bunyani, were among passengers inside a Prime Press Sacco bus who had traveled from Nairobi,” disclosed Onsando.
“The driver was forced to divert the bus to Mbale Rural Hospital after the deceased complained of breathing complications,” added Onsando. The bus drove away immediately after dropping Bunyani and the deceased at the facility’s main gate.
According to the police officer, it was one of the facility’s watchmen who raised the alarm prompting nurses to rush to the scene before confirming the death.
“Upon receiving the event’s signal, officers at Mbale Police Station chased the bus and managed to drive it back to the hospital,” said Onsando. He added: “Contact details for all occupants in the bus were taken before the bus was allowed to proceed with its journey.”
However, Bunyani told KNA the deceased had been leading a healthy life before he began feeling unwell after his abrupt sacking from employment.
“My cousin started developing stress following his abrupt sacking from employment,” revealed Bunyani, adding the deceased situation worsened within five days.
“It was then that I managed to convince him about relocating home where he could receive proper care from his family,” he added.
Health workers at the facility took swabs to Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Kisumu in order to establish exact cause of the death, which has left Mbale town residents in shock.
However, results for the same had not been received by time of going to the press. The deceased body was removed to Vihiga County Referral Hospital mortuary.
By Maurice Aluda
