Optional caesarean surgeries have been temporarily suspended at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital for medics to attend to patients with gunshot wounds.
Some 11 patients were rushed to the hospital after they were allegedly shot by anti-riot police who were repulsing anti-Finance Bill 2024 protesters from accessing the central business district of Homa Bay town on Thursday.
Homa Bay Health executive Roselyn Omollo said they issued the directive to enable medics at the hospital to respond to such emergencies and save lives.
Some of them had gunshot wounds including eight people who needed to undergo surgery.
Omollo said the hospital had to use all available theatre rooms including ones at the maternity ward.
All the six theatres, including two at the maternity wing, had to be used to handle the cases.
“The decision was reached to enable us respond faster and save lives of the patients. Some six patients needed quick medical attention because they were profusely bleeding,” Omollo said.
Speaking when she visited the patients at the hospital, the executive member said they also mobilised doctors from other facilities especially from subcounties to help in the operations.
Omollo said they were alert and ready to respond to such emergencies.
“Such patients are taken for medication immediately they arrive at the hospital. Medics do surgeries where necessary as nurses provide close monitoring.”
Among the 11 patents, two were attended to and were in stable condition.
The hospital matron, Carolyn Adongo, said the two patients were likely to be discharged on Friday morning.
The patients had gunshot wounds on their upper limbs.
Governor Gladys Wanga on Wednesday asked the police to avoid using excessive force on protesters, saying those who were exercising their constitutional rights should not be mishandled.
The governor said her administration would take care of the medical bills of those injured.
“Let the police exercise total restraint in handling protesters. Police should not act in a manner that is provocative,” Wanga said.
The Thursday protests disrupted businesses in Homa Bay town as youths engaged police in running battles.
They also blocked roads in the town, paralysing transport services in the area.
