Keheala’s Exclusive Interview: Lucy Wambui, Registered Clinical Officer

Lucy Wambui, a registered clinical officer at Dandora 1 health center has 5 years of experience in both tuberculosis (TB) and HIV management for adults and pediatrics. Whenever she is not at the hospital taking care of her patients, she gives back to her community by offering free medical services to underprivileged children. 

Describe your role as a clinical officer? 

My main role is to identify presumptive TB cases for screening, diagnosis and treatment at Dandora 1 health center. Once I initiate a patient on TB treatment, Keheala has and continues to help me bridge the gap between my patients and the healthcare system by being there for them all the time.

Why did you decide to be a clinical officer?

When I was a teenager, I spent most of my free time at a health facility near our home. Just seeing how doctors and nurses were taking care of people from my community made me wish to be a doctor. I have to admit, I surprised myself by how fulfilling I found it. Even though I missed a lot of social events, it instilled in me a drive to provide that level of care to others, which I’ve done throughout my career as a clinical officer.

What does your typical day look like in a TB clinic with Keheala’s intervention?

My TB clinic day starts at exactly 8.00 am every Tuesday for those patients who are already on treatment. However, presumptive TB cases can come to the clinic at any time of the day for screening, diagnosis and treatment initiation. I am always at the clinic by 7.00 am to make sure the room is clean and well ventilated because infection, prevention and control measures are key to reducing TB transmission at the clinic. In order to improve drug adherence and treatment outcomes for my patients through daily reminders, motivational messages and support, I make sure all my patients are sensitized and enrolled on the Keheala intervention.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

There’s no better feeling in the world than helping people, especially when they are children. I remember having one little boy as a patient who had tuberculosis. During the course of his treatment we discovered we had a mutual love for science fiction movies. I enrolled him on Keheala intervention where he received motivational messages and support every single day. When he completed treatment, we celebrated this milestone by watching a movie in the common room and a support sponsor from Keheala called and congratulated him too. His dad pulled me aside that afternoon and told me how grateful the whole family was for all our help and support. It wasn’t an easy time for the boy and his family, but with support from Keheala, they were inspired and motivated.

What are some of your low moments?

When a patient under my care develops drug-resistant tuberculosis, it always takes a heavy toll on me because over 90% of drug-resistant tuberculosis is caused by poor drug adherence. I am happy Keheala helps to address the non-medical drivers that exist away from the health facilities. Since I started enrolling my patients on Keheala’s intervention, I have noticed that my patients no longer miss their clinic appointment and their drug adherence has also improved, which is critical in fighting drug-resistant tuberculosis. 

Where do you see Keheala in the future?

I see the World Health Organization (WHO) adopting Keheala’s intervention as a standard of care for Tuberculosis management throughout the globe since it is a magic wand that we have all been waiting for to eliminate TB. 

-Interviewed by Edwin-