Pediatrician

Conducts morning ward rounds at KNH paediatric ward — reviewing 15 admitted children with various conditions. Runs an outpatient paediatric clinic — seeing 20-30 children for immunisations, growth monitoring, illness diagnosis. Manages a newborn with neonatal jaundice — ordering phototherapy. Reviews a child with suspected sickle cell disease — ordering confirmatory tests. Counsels parents of a child with cerebral palsy — discussing long-term management. Provides adolescent health counselling — discussing puberty and mental health with a 14-year-old.

Kenya has a severe shortage of pediatricians — estimated need is 2,000+ but only 300-400 registered pediatricians for a population with 20M+ children. Key healthcare context: 43% of Kenya's population is under 15 (approximately 20M children), under-5 mortality rate is 41 per 1,000 (KDHS 2022), neonatal mortality rate is 21 per 1,000, major childhood illnesses include malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, malnutrition, HIV, TB. Key institutions: KNH (Kenyatta National Hospital — largest referral hospital, has paediatric department and sub-specialties), MTRH (Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital — Eldoret, major paediatric centre), Aga Khan University Hospital (private — excellent paediatric services), Nairobi Hospital (private), Gertrude's Children's Hospital (Nairobi — dedicated children's hospital, employs many pediatricians), county referral hospitals (each county has a referral hospital needing pediatricians). Training: UoN (largest medical school, MMed Paediatrics at KNH), Moi University (MMed at MTRH), JKUAT (medical school and MMed), Aga Khan University (MMed Paediatrics). KEPI (Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunisation) — national immunisation schedule managed by pediatricians and other health workers. Key challenges: severe shortage of pediatricians (especially in rural and ASAL areas), most pediatricians concentrated in Nairobi and major towns, high patient loads (50-100+ patients per day in public hospitals), limited sub-specialisation (very few pediatric cardiologists, oncologists, neurologists in Kenya), and limited equipment and facilities in public hospitals. Salary: entry KES 150,000-300,000 (medical officer during training or junior pediatrician), mid KES 350,000-700,000 (established pediatrician at private hospital or consultant at public hospital), senior KES 800,000-2,000,000+ (consultant pediatrician with private practice or sub-specialist). Public hospital salaries follow civil service scales with allowances. Private practice and private hospitals pay significantly more.