Hospital stops some operations and prioritizes patients with gunshot wounds

The Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital had to suspend its normal surgical operations to care for people injured in today’s protests.

This came after eleven people were hospitalized with injuries sustained during demonstrations in Homa Bay Town.

Nine people suffered gunshot wounds and two were injured in a mass panic.

“We have admitted 11 patients who were injured during the demonstrations. They are being cared for,” Roselyn Omollo, CECM for Health in Homa Bay, told the media.

Omollo said they had to pause other operations at the hospital to treat patients with gunshot wounds.

“Thursday is surgery day in this hospital. But we have decided to suspend other operations to care for gunshot victims whose situation is catastrophic,” Omollo said.

On Tuesday, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said her government would cover the cost of medicines for those injured in the demonstrations.

Previously, civil society in Homa Bay had called on the police to refrain from excessive use of force against demonstrators.

Homa Bay Civil Society Network Secretary General Lyon Achieng and Homa Bay County Bunge la Wenye Nchi Chairman Walter Opiyo said the demonstrations should be peaceful.

They called on both the police and the demonstrating youth to avoid physical confrontations that could lead to injuries or deaths.

“We do not want there to be any injuries or deaths. We call for tolerance during the demonstration,” said Achieng.