The Ministry of Health has established a 24-hour response desk at the scene of the building collapse in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area.
The move is aimed at coordinating medical support and assisting ongoing rescue operations.
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 rescue efforts and provide medical assistance to survivors.
Speaking during a visit to the scene on Saturday morning, Muthoni said the ministry had mobilised medical personnel from referral facilities to complement the county government’s response.
She said health facilities near the collapsed building had also been put on alert to receive people who may be rescued and require urgent medical attention.
“The Ministry of Health has activated disaster response protocols and is working closely with the county government of Nairobi to support medical response to all those that may still be found alive,” Muthoni said.
The measures are intended to ensure that survivors receive prompt treatment as emergency teams continue searching the rubble for people who may still be trapped.
The PS urged members of the public willing to assist in the rescue efforts to avoid entering the site without proper direction, warning that uncoordinated interventions could expose them to additional risks.
The ministry also asked untrained volunteers to keep off the rescue site or wait for instructions on where they could help safely.
Muthoni said the ministry had also partnered with the Kenya Red Cross to provide medical assistance and psychosocial support to affected families gathered at the scene.
“The ministry, in close collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross, has set up stations at the scene to provide not only medical support but also emotional and psychosocial support to family members who are anxiously thronging the scene in the hope of receiving news concerning their kin,” she stated.
The support stations will assist families awaiting information about relatives who may have been affected by the collapse.
The ministry has also established a desk to facilitate contact tracing and help coordinate information as emergency agencies continue their work.
Families have been urged to remain calm and allow the teams involved in the rescue operation sufficient time to carry out their duties.
Members of the public who have gathered to follow the rescue operation have also been advised to maintain a safe distance from the site to avoid interfering with emergency teams or exposing themselves to danger.
Muthoni further called on public health officers to remain vigilant in identifying occupational hazards associated with buildings under construction and report them promptly.
The ministry said early identification and reporting of such risks were important in preventing incidents that could endanger workers and surrounding communities.
