In line with the 2020/2021 Performance Contract, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital Road Safety Committee (RSC) has recently concluded a series of sensitizations to the Hospital staff and the surrounding communities on the importance of road safety. The aim is to reduce fatalities caused by road accidents, by 50%.
After Malaria and HIV/AIDS, road traffic accidents are Kenya’s third-largest cause of death. Every year, over 3,000 people are killed on Kenyan roadways. Pedestrians account for over half of all fatalities.
Sensitization to Kahawa Residents
The sensitization by KUTRRH started with Kahawa West residents. They were enlightened on risk factors leading to road crashes in Kenya. Over 98% of the accidents are caused by road user behaviour. The other issues addressed include:
- Motor vehicle related issues e.g., roadworthiness and inspection.
- Environmental issues occasioned by weather changes.
- Road infrastructure issues such as road designs and lack of non-motorized transport.
- Coordination and management issues
The RSC also sensitized the Hospital Management Team during their monthly meeting with the mantra being “Purpose to be a Safe Road User.” The members committed to act at their level to reduce fatalities associated with road crashes.
Defensive Driving Training
The Hospital organized defensive driving training for all the hospital drivers. The training is hoped to the reduce the dangers associated with driving and reducing the likelihood of a collision or incident. Defensive driving is known to save costs related to vehicle maintenance and fuel consumption, by driving smoothly and steadily.
Gatundu Staff Engagement
Following the collaboration between KUTRRH and Gatundu Level Five Hospital, the Road Safety sensitization team also held a successful engagement with some staff working at the Hospital. The staff learnt about the impact of road traffic injuries at the family and national levels. At the end of the meeting, they committed to be safe road users.
