TERRORIST BOMBING AT THE US EMBASSY IN NAIROBI

Abstract

Background: On 7th August 1998, a terrorist bomb destroyed the American Embassy
in Nairobi, killing and injuring thousands of people.
Objectives: To describe the media component of the (larger) mental health response.
To evaluate the impact of the intervention.
Design: Descriptive cross sectional study
Setting: Nairobi, three months after the explosion.
Subjects: Residents of Nairobi and outlying areas, exposed to the bomb blast and who
received Radio and TV coverage about the explosion.
Interventions: Radio and TV broadcasts, starting hours after the explosion and
continuing for two weeks thereafter.
Results: Of a sample of 400 respondents interviewed, 172 reported they were affected
by the bomb blast, either directly or through friends and relatives. T.V., and radio
had the highest reach, (89% and 85%) respectively. 70% felt the programmes gave
victims hope and 90% felt the programmes should continue, as they were helpful to
the needy.
Conclusion: The media is a controversial, sometimes overused and at times underused
resource in Disaster Management. Judicious use of the media was shown to be helpful
in this study. Literature supports media interventions in disaster. Doctors working in
disaster areas need to understand the media and to prepare for its use as it compliments
other interventions.