The start was stormy however she conquered her difficulties.
The year was 1985. Anne– Beatrice Kihara, strolled the hallowed halls of medical school.
” I was relatively cut out for sciences. We used to have straight cut career paths if you loved sciences? You studied either engineering or medicine.
” My daddy and grandfather influenced my option to study medicine. Father was a public health officer of lots of years. A few times, he took me along for examination sees in the city.
” My grandfather utilized to start young kids throughout the long school trips. They both stimulated me into taking a medical pathway,” she states.
Pregnancy happened. “I got pregnant in my very first year,” she states.
She could have panicked and looked for an abortion. In fact, it was suggested to her “by many people,” she states. “Everyone informed me, You remain in medical school; you understand what to do.”.
She selected to keep her “precious” child. Her moms and dads and brother or sisters– specifically her twin bro– were encouraging.
Obviously pursuit of a career and the pregnancy clashed. She needed to repeat the scholastic year at medical school.
The pregnancy, she says, was a game changer in the trajectory of her life and where she aimed to serve. “It showed me a path: as a young mom, a youth, a student, it woke me as much as the difficulties girls and ladies deal with handling motherhood and a profession,” she says.
She chose that she would not only end up medical school; she would enroll for a masters degree in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
In 1999, she finished with a masters degree.
Her most current achievement is being elected to head the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Figo).
She has actually also received recognition for worldwide advocacy in femaless health.
” This is a huge deal: she has actually increased to the peak of Obstetrics and Gynaecology worldwide.
” She is also a supporter, for reproductive and sexual health, and has been a voice for ladies over the years.
” She has actually taught and trained up-and-coming obstetrician and gynaecologists. This is memorable for Kenya and Africa.
” Dr Kihara is a colossus. We, her Kenyan coworkers, are so happy with this accomplishment,” states Dr Kireki Omanwa, a good friend and the present President of Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (Kogs).
To put it into point of view, Kihara is the first African woman to be president elect of Figo and the youngest president in the organisation since 1954.
This writer had actually previously spoken with Kihara in 2013. At that time, she was running a personal practice along Ngong Road.
” Do you remember my face?” I asked.
” No,” she states. “I have fulfilled so numerous people and its been several years ever since.”.
I remember a doctor exceptionally enthusiastic about ladiess health and rights. She might continue talking about it.
” I am very strong on femaless advocacy: in your area and internationally. And now I have an international platform which I intend to utilize to enhance education, capability building research and advocacy; more so with a focus on adolescents and youth,” she states.
The 2013 Dr Kihara is still the exact same today: passionate as ever about ladies and their health.
That passion partially discusses how she has made it to the peak of obstetrics and gynaecology in the globe.
The full story, nevertheless, began to take shape someplace around 2003 while running a private practice in Kikuyu municipality. She enjoyed scientific care. However, she felt that something was missing: leadership and effect.
Kihara had belonged to Kogs from her postgraduate days and signed up with Kogs Council as the Vice President in 2012. She was elected president in 2013 and served till 2017.
She decided to decrease personal practice and concentrate on leadership. She engaged in numerous technical working groups, took part in different health Bills; including the Beyond Zero Initiative.
At the local congress, she satisfied the management of African Federation of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. “They were all men,” she says.
She challenged them to consist of women in management. “How do you make choices for ladiess health and you are all guys?” she asked.
She was elected into the council of the African Federation and in 2020, she was elected president for the continental body for the next 3 years.
In the past year, Figo requested nominations to choose the next Figo trustees and council members.
Dr Kihara was nominated by Kogs (Kenyan society) and the European society. She had two rivals: An Ethiopian and a Lebanese– The latter was already being in the Council as the vice president of Figo.
” I understood the challenge was massive and felt that my Lebanese coworker was assured of becoming president.”.
She had local support. From colleagues to her trainees at University of Nairobi, numerous urged her to remain the course. The worldwide support from over 130 countries was motivating..
On 28 October 2021, the member societies voted and she emerged the winner. “When I got the news on the ballot screen, the very first thing I did was pray and ask God for guidance.”.
Kihara will stay president-elect for two years then assume presidency from 2023 to 2025.
It has been a legendary journey filled with victories and storms. Her step-by-step increase to be Figo president talks to her decision to move towards her targets.
” My competitive spirit was born from my childhood with a twin sibling and 2 other young boys, prior to my sis occurred.
” I felt forced to be the finest I might ever be. Mommy instilled the social norms and responsibilities as a woman but often I challenged, Why should I be the one doing the cooking and cleaning my siblings can do the same? I would say.”.
Kihara matured in Nairobi where she attended Lavington Primary school and after that Westlands Primary School. She continued to Limuru Girls School where she stayed from Form 1 to Form 6: passing with flying colours to sign up with medical school.
Today, aside from her role in leadership, she is a senior lecturer, teaching and conducting research in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
She likewise provides clinical care at Kenyatta National Hospital and at a couple of private facilities. “I am likewise a proud mother and aunty,” she says.
Her recommendations to moms and dads of teenagers is to promote strong bonds of relationship with them.
” Understand that they are formulating their own mind set. Interact with them: arm them with correct understanding and life abilities.
” Take them to see a gynaecologist who can speak to them. Due to the fact that they do not have knowledge, even the bible states my people die. Discussions relating to reproductive health ought to no longer be taboo.
” More notably, guidance; parenting; function modelling, can make the difference in changing a few of those dynamics today,” she says.
According to Kihara, society can not continue burying its head in the sand; especially in the infotech age.
” We must develop a platform to share genuine understanding and reintegrate girls back to education.
” We need to ask ourselves, what quality of Kenyans do we desire for tomorrow? Ideally, we want kids who have good physical and mental health.
” This can only happen when we offer young individuals understanding that assists them make important options relating to sexuality and health.
” Believe me, when I see women with unintended pregnancies– some as a result of rape or socioeconomic aspects– I comprehend what they are grappling with,” she says.
Her work as Figo president will be to push for the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology to provide more focus on teenagers and youth health.
This content was originally published here.

Daddy was a public health officer of lots of years. It was suggested to her “by various people,” she states. I would say.”.
Even the bible says my people perish because they lack knowledge. Conversations relating to reproductive health ought to no longer be taboo.