Mayo people help deliver new life-saving trauma care centre in Kenya

THE people of Mayo who helped a major fundraising effort for the construction of a critical trauma care centre in Kenya are being hailed as heroes as the dream is realised.

They rallied behind a local surgeon's call following a devastating traffic accident, and on Thursday next, the Irish Ambassador to Kenya, Caitriona Ingoldsby, will cut the ribbon on the new centre.

Dr. Bridget Hughes, an orthopaedic surgeon at Mayo University Hospital (MUH), is a long-time volunteer with Irish charity Brighter Communities Worldwide, who has been working in partnership with communities in Kenya for almost 25 years.

The entire community in Londiani in Kenya was rocked two years ago when a lorry careered out of control and crashed into roadside stalls, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more, leaving devastation in its wake as destitute and desperate people struggled to survive.

Said Dr. Hughes: “I cannot overstate the aftermath and horror of this awful incident. The people were absolutely shaken to the core. This was one of the worst ever road tragedies in Kenya and it really exposed the glaring gaps in trauma care management.

“It’s difficult to convey just how limited the hospital and medical facilities were; essentially it was a hospital without an A&E facility.

“Brighter Communities Worldwide immediately sprang into action supporting the emergency response at Londiani Sub-County Hospital.

“The strong foundations that it has forged in Londiani came to the fore and the workers and volunteers on the ground truly did lifesaving work with the injured, against all odds, as frankly the facilities were more than limited to say the least.”

The devastating road tragedy served to concentrate the minds of the people on the ground and showed the urgent need to strengthen training in trauma care management for hospital staff and community volunteers, along with the need for a dedicated space at the hospital to assess and treat patients with dignity.

Dr. Hughes explained: “At the time, the strain on hospital staff to treat patients was compounded by limited training, lack of trauma systems and a dedicated space in the hospital.

“Then, the nearest facility with these services was 50km from Londiani. This was just too far.

“The basic trauma care that happens following an accident is absolutely crucial, I can’t overstate this. We call this the Golden Hour. We use this term in trauma care to highlight how an injured patient has 60 minutes from time of injury to receive skilled care after which the risk of death or permanent disability increases significantly. Every second counts.

“We set about developing plans for a brand-new trauma care centre and called on the people of Mayo to help raise the much needed funds.”

Dr. Hughes reveals that she, together with management at Brighter Communities Worldwide, actually scribbled down the plans for the new trauma centre on the back of an envelope.

“Time was of the essence, and we knew we just had to get this centre done,” she said.

“The people of Mayo responded to our call for help, and they climbed Croagh Patrick, organised sea swims, including the Westport Sea 2 Summit, bake and cake sales and threw their efforts behind us. My colleagues in MUH who organised these events raised a whopping €17,000 in no time at all.

“Next Thursday (November 6) sees the opening of the new trauma care centre and I couldn’t be prouder.”

The centre has been built in a phenomenally short time and shows what can be done when the will is there.

“It will greatly increase the chances that the first person to come upon an accident will know how to respond and the facilities at the centre will reinforce that. The injured will have skilled hospital staff close at hand to ensure lives are saved and life changing injuries are limited,” she said.

“The people of Mayo who rallied round really have hearts of gold and I would like to say Mile Buiochas to them all for their huge fundraising efforts. They have helped us realise this critically needed trauma care centre and save lives.”

Dr. Hughes will travel to Londiani for the official opening of the new centre.

She said: “I am so looking forward to going and seeing the fruits of this mammoth team effort. It is always so encouraging and uplifting when I go back to see the progress that has been made at Londiani Sub Country Hospital, however this time it will be even more so.

“The new trauma care centre is one that was born out of tragedy but one which now will serve to save lives.”