Jemimah Kariuki
Jemimah Kariuki | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Kenya |
| Occupations | Doctor, preventive medicine, physician |
Jemimah Kariuki is a Kenyan doctor specializing in preventive medicine, maternal and child health. During the COVID-19 pandemic she organised an ambulance service which enabled pregnant women to access maternity care. She was listed as one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2020.
Career
Kariuki is a resident doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Kenyatta National Hospital at the University of Nairobi.[1] She is the founder of the Peace Club, started in response to post-election violence in 2007, and the Public Health Club, which is dedicated to the prevention and awareness of cervical cancer.[2]
During the COVID19 pandemic in Kenya, as a maternity doctor, she noticed a sharp decline in maternal patients, but an increase in complications, especially during the hours of curfew.[3][4] Kenya is one of the countries with the highest rates of mortality for both mothers and children, which the curfew caused to increase, according to experts.[5] Kariuki realized that access to health care was delayed due to limited transportation options.[6] Initially she used the social media platform Twitter to ask for support from government organisations and private companies to transport expectant parents to the hospital.[6] This idea led to Wheels for Life, a free ambulance service.[7]
Awards
On 23 November 2020, Kariuki was on the BBC's list of the 100 most influential women of the year.[7]
25 May 2021 - WHO Director-General's Award for Global Health 2021 in recognition of her contribution to advancing global health.
References
- ↑ Mwobobia, Judith Mukiri. "The repercussions of Covid-19 fight - Standard Health". Health. Archived from the original on 31 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ↑ "Two Kenyan women featured on BBC's most influential list". People Daily. 26 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ↑ Mersie, Ayenat (9 July 2020). "Free ambulance helps save mothers and babies in Kenya lockdown". Reuters. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ↑ "'I couldn't let women die in childbirth'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ↑ "Pregnant women at risk of death in Kenya's COVID-19 curfew". AccessWDUN. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- 1 2 "Pregnant women at risk of death in Kenya's COVID-19 curfew". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- 1 2 "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 23 November 2020. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
External links
