The Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) has partnered with St. John Ambulance to construct first aid and trauma centres along major roads.
The partnership will see the construction of 19 mobile first aid posts and four trauma centres around accident hotspots along major transport corridors.
These facilities will provide rapid first aid and stabilisation services to victims of road crashes, before they are transported to the nearest hospitals for further specialised treatment.
The initiative aims to save lives within the “golden hour”, which is the critical first 60 minutes after a crash when quick medical attention can make the difference between life and death.
"Road crash victims are set to benefit from faster and more effective emergency response following a renewed collaboration between the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) and St John Ambulance," a statement by St John Ambulance stated.
According to the notice, the two entities are working on a memorandum of understanding to guide the partnership in the move aimed at reducing road fatalities and injuries.
Part of the agreement will include the training of boda boda riders, traffic police officers, and other first responders who are often the first to accident scenes.
By equipping them with lifesaving skills, the St Johns revealed that more survivors would have a chance to receive immediate care before reaching the hospital.
The partnership comes after a report by World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that the thousands of Kenyans who die every year from road crashes lose their lives due to delayed emergency response.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) estimated that around 3,000 Kenyans die from road accidents each year.
In data by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) at least 4,748 people lost their lives in road crashes in 2024.
A report by KNBS adds that there were 1,189 fatalities from road accidents in Kenya in the first four months of 2024, adding that a majority of the crashes happened on popular blackspots.
