Laughter is a lifesaver

By NELLY OBADHA

Comedians usually go on stage with the sole purpose of entertaining their audience, but the ‘medical comedian’ hopes for more than laughter from the audience; his other purpose is to save the lives of newborns.

“I have been a comedian for 18 years, having started up as a young boy in Class Six. Then this year, I decided to use my talent to do more than make people laugh as a way of giving back to the society; to save lives,” Dr David Wasambla says.

According to World Health Organisation statistics, 20 babies die every day in Kenya (nearly one every hour), and 8,000 babies die daily around the world, but most of these deaths can be prevented. One of the major causes of this loss of life is hypothermia (low body temperature).

Saving lives was the inspiration behind David’s launch of Cheka Mtoi Aishi; Saving Babies In Africa, One Heater At A Time on May 16. Cheka Mtoi Aishi (Laugh and keep a baby alive) is an initiative that combines comedy and medicine to create awareness on newborn deaths caused by hypothermia, and raises funds to donate room heaters to hospitals. The project’s aim is to buy room heaters that will be donated to delivery rooms in all hospitals in Kenya.

David, a medical doctor, says he first came up with the idea while working in hospitals in Meru and Moyale.

Hypothermia

“I have seen many babies lose their lives within 24 hours of being born due to hypothermia because they are unable to generate their own warmth; or in their first week to pneumonia,” the 39-year-old says.

“The first few minutes are crucial to the good health of a newborn baby. Imagine how cold you feel when the temperature drops by a few degrees. Well, babies experience a ten-degree drop right after birth! The temperature in the womb is approximately 36 degrees centigrade, while room temperature is around 25 to 26 degrees.

“This is why a room heater is important — to keep the baby’s temperature stable while being dried and wrapped in warm clothing. The drop in temperature is the reason why even hospitals in the relatively warm areas such as the Coast, Nyanza and North Eastern also need heaters.”

 The initiative is funded by the money the doctor cum entertainer makes from his stand-up comedy, well-wishers and the sale of branded merchandise. The first heater was donated to Timau Hospital courtesy of Bishop Allan and Rev Kathy Kiuna, who David says are his mentors.

Since then, many other people have been inspired to support the cause, including strangers from the USA. Every heater is branded with the name of the benefactor and the beneficiary hospital.

David’s combining of his talent and profession to give back to the society won him the Jubilee Insurance Samaritan Award in June 2013. As a comedian, he is widely known by his stage name, Medical Comedian, or as the Eveready Watchman (from the commercial).

He also works as a technical advisor for Jhpiego in a project called APHIAPLUS KAMILI that covers Eastern and Central Kenya. David is also a pastor at the Jubilee Christian Church, a husband and father to two daughters. It seems this man has boundless energy.

“We have held several stand-up comedy events that have raised money to buy heaters. Thus far, we have given 62 heaters to various health facilities, with the beneficiaries including Embu Level 5 Hospital, Makueni District hospital, Kilifi Hospital and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (also known as Russia Hospital) in Kisumu.”

Welfare organisation

When he was growing up, David’s late mother was working for a child welfare organisation that took care of abandoned babies and children. Every week, there was a different baby in their home before a better place was found for them, so he grew up thinking he had very many brothers and sisters. From this, David, too, developed a passion to help children.

Things have not always been smooth sailing for the project though.

“After the first 18 heaters were donated, the supermarket where I got the first batch ran out of heaters. It took me more than two weeks to find another supermarket that stocked them, but they also ran out when we got to 46 heaters. We had to search via the Internet for a more reliable supplier who could provide the type of heaters we donate, that is quartz element heaters. These are the best because they have no fan that can blow up dust and bacteria,” David explains.

Also, transporting these heaters to the various hospitals is not easy, because the donations only cover the actual cost of buying heaters.

The greatest challenge, however, is lack of awareness by the society on the relation between cold temperatures, the death of babies and the simplicity of the solution, which is a room heater.

David, however, is optimistic about the future: “We plan to donate heaters to all hospitals in Kenya, a total of 9,000 hospitals. We are focusing on public county referral hospitals in cold regions, then, later, we will move on to other health facilities, including needy mission and private hospitals.”

To create awareness about his mission, and raise additional funds, David holds county comedy events. He is also the chief executive of The King’s Own (TKO) Company Limited. The company’s main mandate is identifying young talented comedians countrywide, and training and nurturing them into responsible professionals.

“We also make use of social media to not only create awareness, but also keep the public up-to-date on progress and plans,” says the busy young man.

How does he balance his huge workload?

“My weekends are usually left for my family. On weekdays, I am a doctor from 7.30am to 5pm, and from 5pm to 5am, I become the Medical Comedian. I am a pastor all the time.”