Anthony Juma Kimaru: From Construction Sites to Saving Lives
On any given day in Machakos County, Anthony Juma Kimaru races against time in an ambulance. He responds to emergencies, stabilizes critically injured patients, and ensures they receive the care they need. As an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) at Machakos County Referral Hospital, his mission is simple yet profound: save lives.
But Anthony's journey into emergency care did not begin in a hospital. It started on construction sites in Nairobi's Industrial Area.
A dream born from tragedy
Before becoming an EMT, Anthony worked as a construction worker. Due to often insufficient safety measures, especially on smaller construction sites, it was a dangerous job: "I saw many people get injured at work and sometimes help did not arrive on time. Those experiences stayed with me and inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a direct difference in people's lives," he recalls.
Determined to be part of the solution, Anthony made a bold decision: He saved money from his construction job and invested it in EMT training. It was a significant sacrifice, but one he believed would allow him to fulfill his passion for helping others.
Theory versus practice
After graduating, however, reality was not easy: He did not find work. “I looked for opportunities for a long time," Anthony says. Eventually, he approached Machakos County Referral Hospital and requested an opportunity to serve as an unpaid volunteer. The hospital welcomed him, allowing him to support ambulance services and work in the Emergency Department.
The work was demanding. Anthony spent his days responding to road traffic crashes, medical emergencies, and critical referrals. He transported patients from accident scenes to health facilities, provided lifesaving care during transit, and coordinated referrals to Kenyatta National Hospital. Later, he also mentored student EMTs, inspected ambulances, and supported training activities for healthcare workers. He quickly realized, however, that many patients faced barriers beyond the reach of his dedication alone.
About 1.5 million people live in Machakos County. Poor road conditions, inadequately equipped ambulances, limited resources in emergency rooms, and a shortage of trained emergency personnel in rural areas make it significantly difficult to provide assistance during emergencies: "Sometimes you know exactly what a patient needs, but the available resources are limited. It can be frustrating because every minute matters in emergency care," Anthony says.
Help for the helpers
As part of its Emergency Care Systems Program, Malteser International has supported Machakos County Referral Hospital since 2022. With support from Malteser International, the hospital’s emergency department was renovated, and the ambulances were equipped with ventilators, among other essential medical devices, enabling life-saving interventions during patient transport. Malteser International also provides ongoing professional training for emergency department staff.
In 2024, Anthony, who was still working as a volunteer at the time, was given the opportunity to participate in a specialized training program through this initiative.
For Anthony, this was a turning point: What began as one training opportunity evolved into a professional and personal success story that ultimately led to a paid position at the hospital. Finally, Anthony's dream of saving lives began to become a permanent part of his own life.
Through the Emergency Care Systems Program, Anthony received training in specialized emergency care courses, including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and the WHO Basic Emergency Care program, among other trainings. He was later selected for advanced training and an exchange visit to Germany through the School of Wetzlar.
For Anthony, the experience was transformational: "The Field Training Officer training and the exchange visit to Germany completely changed my perspective on emergency care services. I saw systems that worked efficiently, learned new approaches to training and mentoring, and gained ideas that I could bring back home," he says.
Impact far beyond one person
"The skills and knowledge I gained are helping me serve patients better. And they are helping me build the capacity of other emergency care providers who will continue saving lives long into the future," he says.
Today, Anthony regularly conducts Continuous Medical Education (CME) sessions, mentors EMT students completing their attachments at Machakos County Referral Hospital, coordinates emergency response teams, and supports efforts to strengthen emergency care systems across the county. This includes his passionate advocating for the recognition of EMTs as a professional cadre in Kenya and efforts to harmonize EMT training curricula nationally.
Additionally, Anthony volunteers as a member of the implementation team for Malteser International's Emergency Care Systems Program at the hospital. Thus, he plays an active role in ensuring that interventions are effectively delivered and contribute to reducing illness and deaths caused by emergencies.
Looking ahead with hope
For Anthony, every patient stabilized, every ambulance crew trained, and every student mentored represents another step toward safer and more effective emergency care in Kenya. When asked what he is most proud of, Anthony does not mention awards or recognition but looks back on his personal journey: “I am proud of the person I have become. I started as a construction worker with a dream of helping others, and today I am contributing to a stronger emergency care system while saving lives every day.”
You can help Anthony save lives
Anthony's story shows how one single person who looks closer can positively change the lives of countless others. Especially if he or she receives the right support. Anthony’s message to the supporters of Malteser International comes from the bottom of his heart: “Thanks to you, many patients and accident victims in Machakos are alive today. I encourage you to continue supporting emergency care so that we can equip more ambulances, strengthen more emergency departments and train more healthcare providers. Your support is helping us save lives every single day.”
Better Emergency Care Systems for Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda
Injuries and deaths resulting from road traffic accidents are a growing problem in East Africa and one of the leading causes of death in the region. Like in many low- and middle-income countries, the increase in motor vehicles coupled with poor safety standards have contributed to this problem. Furthermore, the lack of trained emergency health practitioners and a poor ambulance system mean that accident victims do not receive prompt emergency response and adequate trauma care.
Malteser International is committed to improving emergency care services and ambulance services in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda while making them more accessible. In order to achieve this, we are working together with the ministries of health as well as training institutions and hospitals. We also promote and strengthen the development of associations in the emergency services sector. Joint planning and the transfer of expertise ensure that all forces of society in the countries are engaged in order to sustainably improve emergency care for injured people and all other medical emergencies, regardless of their financial situation.
(November 2026)
