Healthcare

Same Life: Manifestation of the Oxygen Gap in Kenya

Introduction

After the COVID pandemic ravaged Kenya, oxygen prices began to rise dramatically, leading to a loss of life. Ruth Wambui, a nurse and entrepreneur, decided to manifest the oxygen gap in the country.

The Oxygen Crisis in Kenya

The oxygen crisis in the country continues to grow, and patients are losing their lives while searching for this precious commodity. Oxygen is an expensive luxury. Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe reported a decline in the country’s oxygen capacity due to the rising number of patients needing this commodity.

Ruth Wambui: A Journey of Passion

My name is Ruth Wambui Nguguna. I am a nurse entrepreneur. I am a mother of three children. I am also married. I’ve been married for nearly 23 years. I have worked as a nurse for 23 years.

The Humble Beginning

I was born and raised in a small village in Nakuru County called Subukia. My father was a businessman, a shop owner, and my mother was a farmer, what you might call a poor farmer.

Challenges and Hope

In just one year, Ruth was able to speak. She grew up quickly and was very smart. Even in her natural behavior as a child, she would imitate the lives of doctors. Every time we went to the hospital, she would always say, “One day mom, I will wear that uniform. The nurse’s uniform and the cap, I will wear it.”

Vision of Premium Healthcare

Topcare, as the name suggests, is a place that provides premium healthcare. We believe we must make an impact in the world, and that is my husband and I; we are the founders of Topcare.

The Importance of Oxygen

Oxygen is something truly essential, and we may not realize that because it is free now. We breathe it. When it reaches a point where your body cannot do what it’s supposed to do, and then you need to get the support, what we call oxygen therapy, and you can’t obtain it. There’s nothing more devastating than that.

A Painful Experience

I remember at one point when I was doing my pediatric practice; there was a child who was having difficulty breathing and we were desperately trying to get oxygen. We had a cylinder, but we didn’t even have the accessories, and I remember the nurse trying to figure out if there was a way the tube could work on that child. It was truly a sad moment because losing a child is one thing, but losing a child and thinking that maybe oxygen could have saved them is something else.

The Crisis Worsened by COVID

Days later, my mother was not feeling well. I called the facility. I called and told them to ensure there was backup oxygen. So we were actually able to give my mother oxygen.

Partnership to Manifest the Oxygen Gap

We decided to collaborate with the oxygen center to manifest the current gap in oxygen supply at the facilities. Statistics indicate that only 20% or less of the oxygen needs were being met at that time. What they were doing aligned with the dream or what they were also doing, which is to run or ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare for everyone. Hence, the oxygen center came in and was able to provide the factory, and was also able to install and provide some technical advice, and support also in terms of training and policy-making.

Delivering Oxygen to Your Doorstep

Our primary duty is to manifest the gap so we ensure to deliver it to your doorstep. Quality for everyone. The word “everyone” must be highlighted. For me, if I think of an ideal world, it’s a world where someone can come from Subukia, a poor farmer, and be able to access the quality of care that another person like a civil servant or someone with a position in government or anything else can receive. I mean, there’s equality. It’s a global world, something like that. For me, that’s the ideal world.

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A short film for scientific knowledge prepared by Wangero Ngurugi and Brian Opra. It is the result of the Holo-storytelling Project, an initiative by the Video Coalition supported by the Skull Foundation.

Conclusion

After the COVID pandemic devastated Kenya, the prices of oxygen skyrocketed alarmingly, causing loss of lives. Ruth Wambui, a nurse and entrepreneur, decided to embody the oxygen gap in the country.

Tags: healthcare, oxygen, Kenya

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/breath-of-life-bridging-the-oxygen-gap-in-kenya/