University of Nairobi honors Dr. Betty Gikonyo for scholarship initiative

Renowned cardiologist Dr Betty Gikonyo has been feted by the University of Nairobi for her initiative in offering scholarships to needy students.

The University awarded Dr Gikonyo a certificate of recognition during UoN Compassion Day which was marked on Monday at the main campus.

Dr Gikonyo, who is also the Chairperson of The Karen Hospital, was handed the honour by the UoN Vice Chancellor Prof Stephen Kiama.

Dr Gikonyo noted that this year, UoN students received Sh1 million in scholarships for medicine students. 

She is also the chairperson of the UoN class of 1970 Alumni Association. 

Prof Kiama called on more partners and stakeholders of the university to offer more support to students who cannot afford to fund their academic courses.

Dr Gikonyo also echoed the call to more stakeholders to join in supporting needy students.

"Such initiatives would help students realise their talents and become assets to the nation," Dr. Gikonyo said. 

Also in her efforts to ensure quality education, Dr Gikonyo launched a health workshop on March 10 attended by teachers drawn from across the country at the Karen Hospital.

The annual teachers' workshop was specifically tailored to sensitise the tutors on how to detect heart and other health problems among learners.

During the launch, she urged the Ministry of Education to train teachers on how to detect medical emergencies among learners in schools. 

Dr Gikonyo said there is a dire need for teachers to be trained in detecting medical emergencies in their learners to help reduce the frequent high incidence of sudden deaths in schools.

She said numerous cases of school children dying in learning institutions due to undetected health problems can be reduced if teachers are trained on early detection.

"Some sudden deaths can be prevented if teachers are trained on what symptoms to look out for in suspected cases like heart diseases," she said. 

Dr Gikonyo noted teachers are the first responders when pupils get into health problems and therefore need to be well-equipped to detect such emergencies. 

She added that the training should not simply touch on the detection of health emergencies, but also the initial intervention measures that the teacher ought to take. 

"The training should not be just for detecting heart-related issues but also other health emergencies," Dr Gikonyo said.