As reports grew last year that women were dying of pregnancy related complications while Nairobi was under a COVID-19 curfew, Jemimah Kariuki took to social media to offer help. This simple act led to an avalanche of support, and the emergency support line and free transport service, Wheels for Life, was born.
Kariuki is a medical doctor, and a resident in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Kenyatta National Hospital. This year, she received the World Health Organization Director-General's Award for Global Health. Wheels for Life has so far helped 10,000 women get medical support and arranged 2,000 taxi and ambulance trips. Kariuki hopes the service will continue long after the pandemic is over.
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