When Daniel Muthama scored a C- in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams, he thought his dream of becoming an engineer would never come to be.
But his friends and family back in Machakos County convinced him to enrol for a certificate course in biomedical engineering, an idea he gladly embraced.
Thirty years later, Mr Muthama this month was feted as the best and most resourceful biomedical engineer of the year.
He received a certificate and a trophy from Heath Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Mercy Mwangangi on December 10 at the Golf Hotel, Kakamega.
Mr Daniel Muthama holds his certificate and trophy at his office at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu.
Photo credit: Angeline Ochieng | Nation Media Group
With Kenya having at least 5,000 biomedics, Mr Muthama, who is based at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu, said his victory did not come easily.
“It has been 30 years of hard work and determination,” the beaming 50-year-old expert told the Nation.
“The recognition is a great motivation for my career. It is the first time ever I have received such an award and I hope to retain the title.”
After joining Kilifi Hospital Maintenance Training School in 1994 for a certificate course, he vowed to make it in the medical field.
Upon graduation, he worked at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital for 10 months before being transferred to New Nyanza General Hospital, now JOOTRH.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH).
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
He later enrolled for a diploma in biomedical engineering before joining Egerton University for a degree course in the same field.
“After graduation, I went back to JOOTRH, where I assumed my duties, operating hospital machines and repairing those that were worn out,” he said.
To many people, biomedical engineering is all about repairing machines, but as Mr Muthama explained, it plays a critical role in keeping patients alive and hospitals running.
Biomedical experts play a critical role in saving the lives of patients, especially those in intensive care units.
“My employer is the Kisumu County government. However, I am often invited to work in hospitals all around the country,” said the part-time lecturer at Kenya Medical Training College.
His duties range from repairing broken hospital equipment to operating, maintaining and checking the efficiency of the machines.
“I repair and operate critical-care and therapeutic machines, including units for newborns, X-rays, laboratory machines, dental equipment, oxygen plants and ventilators,” he said.
Mr Daniel Muthama operates the oxygen plant at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) in Kisumu.
Photo credit: Angeline Ochieng | Nation Media Group
Patients, he said, often leave hospitals unaware of the source of the oxygen they used in ICUs.
“We may have the oxygen plants. However, without skilled personnel to operate the machines, lots of lives that would have been saved may be lost,” Mr Muthama said.
In Kisumu, at the peak of Covid-19 infections in May, he was among those who spoke about the importance of oxygen machines in managing patients.
He not only offers his services in Kisumu but shares his knowledge across several research centres across the country.
Some of the centres are Kemsa, Alupe Hospital, Busia, Care Plus Laboratory and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
“My greatest joy is being able to put smiles on the faces of patients, turning their pain to laughter after receiving good services with well-maintained machines,” he said.
Association of Medical Engineers Kenya chairman Symon Mbakah said Mr Muthama had all the qualities and deserved the trophy.
But despite the huge workload, Mr Mbakah said, biomedics get little recognition in Kenya.
“Many times, recognition is often given to doctors and nurses. We, however, have always been the unsung heroes and heroines,” he said.
