Kenya medics roll out full-throttle safety plan for scorching Diani showdown

Members of the medical team at the 2025 CAC Road Cycling African Championships, led by Jessica Shiraku (centre), after a pre-event briefing in Diani on Wednesday. PHOTO CAC LOC

Diani, Wednesday, November 19, 2025

‎With scorching conditions expected to grip Diani as the CAC Road Cycling African Championships kick off on Thursday, Jessica Shiraku, Team Kenya’s physio and lead medic for the continental showpiece, says her medical unit has a robust, no-nonsense plan to counter the elements.

For the next four days (Thursday to Sunday), Diani is set to endure intense heat and humidity, with daily maximum temperatures hovering between 31°C and 32°C (88°F to 90°F).

‎To beat the looming heat threat, Shiraku revealed they have strategically placed ice-drum stations throughout the course.

‎"The athletes will be cycling at a time that the heat will be at its highest. We will have a lot of issues in hydration and fainting because of the heat. We shall station ice drums around the paths," the experienced Shiraku said.

“If someone faints, the medics will carry them and immerse them into the drums to cool them down and relieve them,” she said.

The ice drums were also employed in 2007 when the Coast region hosted the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Mombasa under sweltering conditions with Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse and Kenya-born Dutchwoman Lornah Kiplagat dominating the senior men’s and women’s races with Kenya taking the junior titles through Asbel Kiprop and Linet Masai.

‎Shiraku added that three hospitals - Diani Beach Hospital, Kwale Sub-County Hospital and Pwani Medical Clinic - have been lined up for emergency care.

“We have organised to transfer them to some that are close by including the Diani Beach, Pwani Beach and Kwale Sub-County hospitals.”

She underscored the urgency for swift response in handling athletes on such a demanding course.

“Athletes may fall or collide so we have to be fast and prompt. We may conduct normal first aid for minor injuries where the athlete can continue but if it is a serious injury, then we put them in the emergency vehicle," she added. "We will also have chase cars with doctors on board."

‎For the Individual Time Trials (ITT) set for Thursday, ambulances will be positioned strictly outside the loop to avoid interfering with riders.

"Ambulances will not be allowed inside the loop for ITT. They will be stationed outside the course so as not to distract the athletes."

In addition, nurses and doctors will be deployed at various points along the course.

"For the loops, nurses and doctors will be stationed at one corner with reflectors and t-shirts to display and identify them properly,” she explained.

For the Road Race, two ambulances will be on duty to guarantee instant, uninterrupted response.

"For the Road Race, we will have two ambulances. One ambulance will be following the athletes just behind at a distance while the second will be further back. This is to ensure that when the first ambulance has to quickly rush someone to the hospital, the other ambulance moves in to follow the pack."

At the finish line, Shiraku noted that treatment beds will be set up to cater for injured or exhausted athletes.

"The finish line for the Road Race is usually very busy because we get lots of athletes coming in with injuries. We will put treatment beds and centres to treat all athletes at the finish line."

‎With more than 30 federations lighting up the continental competition, Shiraku pointed out that each team will have its own medical personnel.

‎"Federations have come with their own medical personnel but we are the overall body overseeing the event," she explained.