This archive report was first published on 25 July 2021.
Kenya's First Female Radiopharmaceutical Scientist ¶
Dr Elizabeth Itotia, 29, has made history as the first female radiopharmaceutical scientist in Kenya, a feat confirmed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, on July 25, 2021.
Dr Itotia graduated with a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University of Nairobi in 2017, becoming the valedictorian of her class. Her achievement secured her a fully-sponsored scholarship by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to study radiopharmacy at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria, South Africa, which she recently completed.
As a radiopharmaceutical scientist, Dr Itotia is mainly tasked with preparing radioactive drugs in a safe and quality way. These drugs are used for the diagnosis of various diseases, mainly cancer. Unlike other drugs, these drugs are prepared on site since they 'expire' in a matter of hours or sometimes minutes or seconds.
Dr Itotia's journey to success was a deliberate move she made way back in secondary school. She hated working in the farm, which was a mandatory chore at her parents' house. She vowed that she would work hard and be successful, something she kept sharing with her grandmother who advised her that the only way out of this was books.
Dr Itotia's typical day starts at 3am since production of radioactive drugs starts early in the morning. She has to ensure that the production is according to the set standards and that all safety and quality measures have been taken. She notes that her main inspiration is the fear for failure, adding that she detests letting herself and her parents down, but mainly the patients who depend on her.
Dr Itotia feels proud being the first female in the field, saying it shows that if given a chance, women can equally shine in any field. She notes that the field has also attracted few professionals, even the male ones, and Kenya is currently counting on those that are currently undergoing training.
Her future plans include mentoring as many pharmacists as possible to join the unique field so they can make a difference for cancer patients. Dr Itotia had to deal with a number of challenges while in South Africa, including harsh weather conditions like a very hot climate, which made her fall sick often.
