Welcome to OCOA Ambulance Service, your trusted partner in emergency medical care and evacuation solutions. Over the past five years, we've been committed to delivering excellence in every aspect of our service, providing comfort, reassurance, and support to those in need. As we mark this significant milestone anniversary, we invite you to join us on our journey of compassion and care.
The Onset of EMS in Kenya: A Response to Tragedy On August 7, 1998, at 10:38 am, the tranquillity of central Nairobi was shattered by a horrific bombing outside the American embassy. The explosions claimed over 220 lives and injured more than 2,000 people, leaving the city in chaos. Victims suffered from severe injuries, including skull fractures, respiratory complications, internal and external bleeding, burns, hearing and vision loss, spinal injuries, and amputations caused by flying shrapnel and broken glass. The scene was nothing short of catastrophic. In the wake of this tragedy, the American embassy conducted a needs analysis to evaluate the emergency medical services (EMS) response. Shockingly, it was revealed that Kenya lacked an ambulance system. Recognizing the urgent need for improvement, the embassy initiated a program to train prehospital service providers In November 1998 and March 1999, the first Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training sessions in East and Central Africa were held, organized by the International Medical Corps and USAID. The inaugural EMTs were selected from Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi City Council, Red Cross, and the Kenya Army. A subsequent class included trainees from Nairobi Hospital, Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, AAR, and AMREF. The training was rigorous, exposing participants to high-stress scenarios involving trauma, illnesses, and life-and-death situations. Despite the challenges, 40 students successfully graduated, motivated by the opportunity to save lives. Two years later, these EMTs returned for a refresher course and additional training in search and rescue, water rescue, vehicle extrication, and the Incident Command System. They also completed an instructor course, enabling them to train and recruit more EMS providers. This effort led to the training of 112 additional students from Nairobi and Mombasa, paving the way for the establishment of a formal EMS organization. On March 9, 2009, the Kenya Council of Emergency Medical Technicians was officially registered under the Register of Societies. This milestone marked a significant increase in the number of qualified EMT and Paramedics.
