More than 50 officers trained on first aid as response gaps persist
Cicely McDonnel Coordinator of Emergency Courses Peter Ngeny instructs trainees on basic life support during an emergency course training at The Nairobi Hospital on 27th February 2026.
The Nairobi Hospital has successfully completed the training and certification of more than 50 police officers and officials drawn from the Administration Police, Kenya Prisons Service and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). The Basic Emergency training was delivered in partnership with the Cicely McDonnell College of Health Sciences.
The BLS training is part of The Nairobi Hospital’s year-long 70th Anniversary celebrations and is geared towards directly bridging a critical gap in Kenya’s emergency response ecosystem. Recent studies show that in cases of workplace and road traffic injuries in Kenya, first aid is only provided in less than 16% of the cases.
Speaking during the day-long training program, The Nairobi Hospital CEO Felix Osano reiterated the need for basic life support skills and knowledge in bridging the heightened need for emergency services across the country.
“The Basic Emergency training is a crucial primary step in providing effective and rapid interventions during mild and serious injuries across multiple settings. Having the necessary skills and knowledge increases the chances of survival for victims of accidents. It is through such structured training programs that we shall succeed in improving the knowledge and skills in provision of first aid services immediately after accidents,” Osano stated.
Immediate bystander First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) intervention can double or triple survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and some traumatic injuries.
The training was conducted by expert personnel from the Cicely McDonnell College of Health Sciences, Kenya’s first privately owned nursing school and now a premier institution offering advanced diploma in specialty nursing programs. The College is celebrating 70 years this year.
Commandant of Security of Government Buildings and VVIPs, Mr. Lazarus Opicho, noted that Basic Life Support training is crucial to identifying and categorizing mild-to-serious injuries at the scene of accident before victims are taken to a trained clinician. He says this is key to improving health outcomes for those affected.
“Knowledge of Basic Life Support is particularly important especially in cases of mild bodily harm because it makes primary categorization of injuries possible before victims arrive at health facilities for advanced examination and treatment. I am proud to have been a part of The Nairobi Hospital’s initiative to educate and train prisons’ hospital lifesaving interventions,” he explained
This program underscores The Nairobi Hospital’s strategic evolution as a holistic healthcare leader that diversifies its impact through education, partnerships, and proactive community safety mechanisms. The training reinforces a vital link between healthcare professionals and normal citizens across multiple economic sectors.
As part of its 70th anniversary, the Nairobi Hospital will continue offering targeted safety training sessions to priority groups within the country across the year.
