Laughter is said to be the best medicine. For Dr David Wasambla, it is also a way to save the lives of newborns.
He wore two hats last week, that of a motivational speaker and comedian, to serve his overall purpose — improving healthcare in the country.
A report by the World Health Organisation shows that 20 babies die every day in Kenya and 80,000 worldwide, with hypothermia (low body temperature) as one of the major causes.
It is for this reason that Dr Wasambla founded Cheka Mtoi Aishi, a charitable trust which incorporates comedy to help raise funds to equip hospitals with room heaters.
Through the trust and his other company, The King’s Own, he has been able to donate room heaters to 76 hospitals across the country and one in Tanzania to save babies and children from death due to cold-related causes.
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The campaign started last year in May, bringing together a line-up of comedians such as Abel Mutua, film director, actor and comedian Gerald Langiri, movie director and casting director Melvin (Tahidi High) and Celine and Awiti of Mother-In-law, among others.
This year’s event held at Ridgeways Boys Academy had performances ranging from stand-up comedy, skits, songs, spoken word, dances to poetry.
“The idea behind this is to use talent to improve pediatric healthcare in Kenya and Africa as a whole. The concept combines comedy and medicine to save babies from death due to hypothermia, pneumonia and other cold related causes and so far we have saved 20,000 babies. By the end of this week, we should be able to reach 80 hospitals with heaters,” shares Dr Wasambla.
