A psychiatric patient was involved in an accident after stealing an ambulance and driving off.
The middle-aged man stole the ambulance which was parked outside the Eldoret Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital's gate and drove off.
The vehicle, which belonged to Huruma District Hospital was subsequently involved in an accident with a fuel tanker at Marura Area on the Iten-Eldoret Highway.
Kenyans.co.ke spoke to the communications officer attached to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital who confirmed that the man had accessed the ambulance outside the facility.
"The ambulance was packed outside the hospital gates which is where he got it from," confirmed the officer.
As per a report by K24 Digital on Tuesday, March 24, the ambulance driver had left the key in the ignition believing that the hospital was safe.
He was in a hurry assisting a nurse admit a patient at the facility.
It was while on his short-lived drive that the patient rammed onto an oncoming tanker. The driver of the fuel tanker escaped unharmed while the patient sustained minor injuries.
On officer at the Moi Referral Hospital highlighted that no other persons were in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
"There was no other passenger in the ambulance," she provided
It remains unclear how the patient escaped the scrutiny of medics around the hospital or the guards posted at its gates.
While mental healthcare is a big issue in Kenyan society, many are unable to access it due to the high costs and stigma.
In Mathari Hospital, Nairobi which is, the countries biggest mental health facility, a downpayment of Ksh 10,000 is required before admission.
However, the total cost of treatment for a mental illness could range from between Ksh 50,000 to Ksh 100,000 according to Dr Njuguna Eric, a Nairobi psychiatrist.
These costs often times bar citizens from accessing the treatment they need.
