Queensland Health in Australia Honours Kenyan Doctor for Remarkable Contribution

Dr Nchafatso Gikenyi Obonyo was on Wednesday, June 14, honoured by Queensland Health in Australia in appreciation of his remarkable contribution to the health sector. 

The distinguished Kenyan was recognized for his involvement in sepsis studies with the Critical Care Research Group (CCRG), a global leader in critical care research intended to improve patient results. Queensland Australia said that Dr Obonyo's contribution may help save millions of lives around the world.

"Incredible work, Dr Obonyo. Well done to you and your team," the organisation wrote.

At Alliance High School, Obonyo was captivated by the medical profession. He spent his free time volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes, where he could converse with doctors and gain motivation to pursue a career in the field. Upon obtaining his degree from the University of Nairobi, Obonyo was appointed to Kijabe Hospital as an intern.

While on Internship, he saw several critically ill children die from septic shock caused by blood-borne infections. This sparked a strong interest in him to explore alternative treatment methods for helping the afflicted children. In 2011, Obonyo became part of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research program to examine the supporting evidence for the procedures used to treat septic shock.

In March 2023, the medical officer was recognised for his contribution to the field of science when he won the Africa Top 40 Under 40 Awards. This award is bestowed on individuals under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions in diverse fields. Prior to this, he had been honoured with the Global Health Research Fellowship from the Wellcome Trusts Centre for Global Health Research at the Imperial College London in recognition of his work on the treatment of septic shock in critically ill kids.