This archive report was first published on 15 June 2021.
Medical Student's Tragic Death at Kenyatta Hospital Raises Concerns ¶
A 35-year-old postgraduate medical student at the University of Nairobi's School of Medicine at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) took her own life inside her car on June 12, 2021, highlighting the rising cases of depression and mental health problems among medical students and doctors in Kenya.
Dr. Lydia Wahura Kanyoro, a postgraduate in Paediatrics, was found dead in her Mazda Verisa at the hospital's parking lot by the head of security, George Onyango, at 1 pm on Saturday.
According to police, three syringes, a vial of Ketamine, and midazolam drugs were recovered from the scene, suggesting that Dr. Kanyoro had injected herself with anaesthesia-inducing drugs.
Dr. Kanyoro had written a suicide note, which was printed from an email dated June 12 at 9 am, detailing her reasons for taking her own life.
Reports indicate that many medical staff are suffering from depression and other mental-related illnesses, attributed to tough working conditions, among other factors.
Experts warn that such cases remain largely underreported, especially among Master's students, and that the workload and academic demands for some doctors pursuing further studies can be unbearable.
Colleagues of Dr. Kanyoro have come forward to share their own struggles with mental health, highlighting the need for doctors to be vigilant for signs of depression within themselves and their colleagues.
Doctors have been advised to seek help when they recognize something is amiss, as relying on resilience and self-reliance above all else can put their own well-being and that of their patients at risk.
The body of Dr. Kanyoro was transferred to Chiromo mortuary, and a post-mortem is expected to be conducted today.
Though preliminary investigations suggest it was a case of suicide, the Kilimani Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss has vowed to conduct a thorough probe into the death, keeping an open mind not to be influenced by initial reports or presentation in the crime scene.
