For the love of little champions: Fighting against childhood cancer

Her soul is healed by being with children.

Yet therapeutic moments with these little ones are largely to ensure they have access to appropriate and timely treatment and management for a disease that fiercely attacks them unapologetically; childhood cancer.

Children in Sub-Saharan Africa have little chance that their cancer will be detected early enough and fitting treatment given, compared to their peers in developed countries. That is why this woman is leading a group of health professionals in Kenya to chart the way forward.

Jessie Githanga is a trained pathologist haematologist and an associate professor at the University of Nairobi School of Medicine but these heralded titles are not as close as her passion for the challenge of cancer on children.

Together with colleagues drawn from oncology, radiology, general physicians, pediatricians, palliative care specialists and psychologists, among other health specialists from public and private hospitals, research institutions and social forums, they recently formed a consortium of professionals known as the Kenya Childhood Cancer Trust to bring the message of childhood cancer closer to you.

“Our goal is to improve awareness, access to care and treatment outcomes of children with cancer in Kenya,” said Prof Githanga in an interview with the Eve Woman.

She has been decorated for her endearing role in research and training. Being recognised as one of the MIW (Most Influential Woman) in Africa in 2014 was one of the most satisfying times of her life, aside from the day she got married to Dr Githanga, a pediatric cardiologist, and when her children were born.

And whereas she did not go ahead and become a pediatrician, she is at home in pathology, specialising in investigating blood diseases. She confesses that this specialty is also a family-friendly specialisation, adding it offered a family-work balance.

“I value my family life very much and pathology and haematology enables me to keep a healthy balance,” said Prof Githanga.

Eyes on the prize

“I enjoy solving riddles and finding out the cause of disease/ill health. It’s very exciting,” said Prof Githanga, who is also Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland in Baltimore.

Prof Edward Kasili is one of her mentors especially in haematology and oncology. She became the Head of the Pathology Department at the University of Nairobi for six years between 2006 and 2011. During this time at the helm, she remembers being intimidated but she says she rose through it, all keeping her eyes affixed on the goal.

“This experience was quite distressing especially when there appeared to be no solution and persons who should have sorted out the issue were either unable or unwilling to do so,” she says, adding it made her more resilient, better equipped to endure difficulties and more likely to stand up for her rights.

“A brilliant mind, great teacher who went extra mile to establish the first children’s cancer ward in Kenya at Kenyatta National Hospital, established the 1st hospice in Kenya and despite his prominence was extremely understanding and kind to patients,” she says of Prof Kasili, adding that compassionate care is the golden rule for every doctor.

Never too young for wise parental words, she also refers to her parents as gems. “My late mother taught me about being kind, gentle and gracious to all people no matter their station in life while my father never tired of encouraging me to aim for the sky,” she says.

Yet even as she aimed for the skies, her dreams were anchored and enforced even during playtime.

“As we played with my youngest brother, we’d catch insects and pluck out legs or wings, wrap them in tissue and put them in a box which served as a hospital ward. He would be the doctor and I would be the nurse,” she remembers the initial steps towards her dream career.

And while at Kilimani Primary school and later at Limuru Girls for both her ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels, her eyes were fixed on being a caregiver. This saw her join the School of Medicine at the University of Nairobi. 

She later proceeding for post-doctoral training at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg in Canada and as a research registrar in Haematology at the Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, Scotland.

Jessie amplified her dreams. “A lot of inspiration came from meeting with family doctors then when I was ill – they were gentle, wise and just meeting them made you feel well,” she said.

And when she eventually made it to medical and graduate school in the 80’s, she met her pathology lecturers; Prof A Kungu, Prof E Kasili and Prof D Gatei whom she says were instrumental in shaping her career.

Value system

And in Canada, she met Dr Gaynor Williams, Mrs Norma Christie and Dr Peggy Yhap and in Scotland – Dr Myrtle Peterkin, who encouraged her on. She has also co-authored a chapter in a book titled, ‘Transfusion Medicine,’ published in South Carolina, USA in 2010 devoted to peer-reviewed scholarly work on haematology.

She holds honesty firmly as part of her value system.

“I do not like being asked to do deceitful tasks like requests like sick off when they are not really ill,” Prof Githanga said.

She says her family supported her dreams. “My family is my strength and gives me great joy. I am married to a wonderful and supportive husband,” she says of Dr David Githanga, a pediatric cardiologist.

How would she like to be remembered?

“I would like to make a positive contribution to society in whatever way I can –whether it is though treating sick people or contributing towards their management, being there as good a lecturer and teacher as I can, or helping a needy person,” she said.

What does she do in her free time?

Jessie and her husband have two sons and a daughter. Daughter Wanjiru is a sustainable tourism specialist and adjunct lecturer at George Washington University. Their son Ndiba is pursuing a postgraduate degree in industrial/organisational psychology and Kinyanjui is currently doing his A-levels.

Together with her husband, Jessie has found a new past-time in farming, which she says is encouraging them to explore new ways. She also loves the water. In 2012, she was a member of a swimming team which broke the world record for having the largest number of swimmers swimming 100 metres to raise funds.