Kenya’s medical community is mourning the loss of Dr Edith Kwobah, a renowned psychiatrist known for her transformative work in mental health.
Dr Kwobah succumbed to lung cancer.
Prof Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of the Medical College at Aga Khan University, expressed his grief on his Facebook account, describing the loss of a dedicated colleague and friend.
He praised Dr. Kwobah’s commitment to transforming mental health spaces.
In his words, “What a devastating blow! Struggling to process the loss of my friend and colleague. The girl from Ndeiya, Edith Kamaru Kwobah. The tears just will not dry. Terrible, terrible, terrible!” Prof Atwoli mourned.
The Kenya Medical Association (KMA) remembered Dr Kwobah as a brave individual who fought cancer valiantly.
KMA Secretary-General, Dr Diana Marion, acknowledged her significant contributions to the profession and the KMA community.
Dr Marion said, “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr Edith Kwobah, a cherished member and esteemed leader of the Kenya Medical Association. Dr Kwobah battled cancer with strength, boldness and grace, but sadly succumbed to the illness today, March 22, 2024.”
Dr Kwobah, who identified herself as ‘a girl from Ndeiya’, was born in Ndeiya village in Limuru.
After being diagnosed with lung cancer in the middle of the previous year, she remained spirited.
She shared her diagnosis and treatment journey extensively on her social media platforms and appeared in media interviews to raise awareness about cancer in Kenya.
She maintained a positive attitude and as if she knew she was living her last, four days before her demise, Dr Kwobah reflected on her cancer journey on Facebook.
She encouraged those battling cancer, despite her own painful path.
She wrote, "This journey with cancer is very personal… it is very with unique challenges, often unexpected, it is course is not guaranteed and one straight path. No one should minimise it or compare with anyone’s.”
Dr Kwobah also shared that she had a hospital in her house and had just been discharged on Saturday morning.
Until her death, Dr Kwobah was the director of the mental department at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
She was also the founder of Nawiri Recovery and Skills Center at MTRH, a centre she established after realising patients often struggled to understand their condition while seeking treatment.
On July 28, 2022, Dr Kwobah was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kenya Board of Mental Health.
The appointment by the former Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, through a gazetted notice, was a recognition of her excellent work that impacted mental health spaces.
