Gahini Hospital workers and patients were left in shock after a 24-year-old casual labourer was electrocuted in the hospital, on Thursday.According to the police, the deceased only identified as Niyitegeka, (a cleaner), died instantly when she came into contact with a live wire and received severe shocks.She was first seen by in-patients who tried to rescue her in vain.Gerard Rubulika, the hospital administrator, confirmed the accident, saying they lost a hard working employee.“The woman was cleaning in the ophthalmological ward when she touched live wires. The metallic bed and water she was handling were all good conductors of electricity. Her chances of survivor were, therefore, minimal,” he said. One patient said it was a saddening moment when he found the young girl stuck in the electric wires near the hospital bed.“I tried to rescue her but when I pulled her arm, mine also got stuck to hers. I had to use a wooden broom to push the metal away,” the patient, only identified as John, said.Rescuers were later called and freed her body and transferred it to the mortuary, the police said.Medics later handed over the body to the relatives of the deceased after conducting a post-mortem examination at Kiziguro Hospital.Hazardous wiring is rampant in most district buildings, where houses are often gutted by fires.However, Emilie Karemera, the area Energy Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) director, said the cause of the accident was yet to be established. He warned the public against poor installations.“People or institutions must use quality cables. Poor quality electric materials are responsible for electric shocks. It is advisable that even after installation, owners of buildings must make general check-up at least annually,” he said.“It is sad that even big institutions and companies hire unskilled people to make installations. For Gahini hospital’s case, I do not know what went wrong,” Karemera added.
