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November 06, 2018 www.mygov.go.ke NEWSFOCUS | 27 Retired champion of public health is proud of life’s work What started as a childhood passion — ensuring basic hygiene was observed — gradually evolved into a life-long career. From her days as a high school teacher to her stint at the United Nations, Professor Miriam Were has been at the forefront of the war against preventable diseases. She has also championed youth empowerment through Uzima Foundation, making a difference in the lives of many. Her story is excerpted from a forthcoming book, Pioneers & Transformers: The Journeys of Top Achieving Women in Kenya, published by the Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board Prof. Miriam Were Pioneers & Transformers Journeys of top achieving women in Kenya P oise and grace are the defining features of Professor Miriam Khamadi Were. Her trademark long kitenge, trim figure and matching turban belie her mid-70s age. Were’s life and work are strongly influenced by biblical principles, learnt in the Quaker Friends Church as she was growing up. The church emphasised communal living, simplicity, temperance, hygiene and peace with no domestic violence. The church-appointed Afya Bora (public health) personnel made sure every family in the village where she was raised dug a pit latrine, drank water from protected springs, and washed and sun-dried their dishes. This hygienic living greatly contributed to community health within her village, unlike in neighbouring villages, where many children died. Were’s first experience with death in her village was when she was 15, she says. Self-effacing, Were attributes her success not so much to her abilities but to the opportunities she had. “My two older sisters were very bright, but there were no high schools for girls, so they could not further their education,” she says. Her dream of becoming a doctor stalled because the high school she attended had no laboratories for chemistry and physics which she needed to qualify for medical school. However, she would volunteer to wash children’s feet and faces during church camps and the missionaries determined she would make a good health worker. They therefore organised a scholarship for her to study sciences. Were became the first African to attend a premedical programme at the William Penn College in Iowa, in the US. She found basic terminology in physics and chemistry confusing. When the professor realised she had not studied the subjects in high school, he gave her textbooks to help her catch up. She ended up being the top student in her Bachelor of Science class. After graduating, she started a degree in medicine, but homesickness prompted her to abandon the course and return home in 1965. Her mother had died earlier. “I feared my father would also die,” she says. Although she wanted to study medicine at Makerere University in Uganda, the government needed more science teachers so she took up education. She reported to her first teaching post just after the mock exams. The girls had failed the chemistry and biology papers. “We are going to pass,” she assured them. Three months later, they all passed their final exams. Were debunks the myth that girls are weak in sciences. “If the teacher is a man who dismisses women as not understanding science, what do you expect?” She personally enjoyed teaching CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 Academic Model Providing Access To Healthcare KENYA SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT Empowering the Public Service TENDER NOTICE The Kenya School of Government invites sealed tenders from eligible bidders for the tenders below. Interested tenderers may obtain further information and inspect the tender documents at our Lower Kabete Campus procurement offices during working hours or at the School website www.ksg.ac.ke or www.tenders.go.ke portal. Tender No. Tender Description KSG/77/2018-2020 Provision of General Insurance KSG/78/2018-2020 Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Kitchen Equipment KSG/79/2018-2020 Reburbishment and expansion of a car park. KSG/80/2018-2020 Refurbishment and coversion of Adminstration block parking Bay into a reception and customer care office. KSG/81/2018-2020 Civil Works for Completion of Gate and Gate House KSG/82/2018-2020 Supply and Delivery of ICT Hardware KSG/83/2018-2020 Supply and Delivery of Air Conditioners KSG/84/2018-2020 Provision of Service, Repair and Maintenance of ICT Equipment KSG/85/2018-2020 Supply and Delivery of Staff Uniform & Protective Clothing KSG/86/2018-2020 Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Laundry Equipment KSG/87/2018-2020 Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Elevated Steel Water Tank Eligibility Location Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Mombasa Mombasa Bid Security Lower Kabete Kshs 100,000 Lower Kabete Kshs 100,000 Kshs 100,000 Kshs 100,000 Lower Kabete Kshs 100,000 All Campuses Kshs 100,000 All Campuses Kshs 100,000 All Campuses Kshs 100,000 Lower Kabete Kshs 100,000 Baringo, Matuga Baringo Kshs 100,000 Kshs 100,000 Tender documents may be obtained upon payment of non-refundable fees of Kshs. 1,000 or down loaded without charge from the School website: www.ksg.ac.ke or www.tenders.go.ke portal. All payments should be made at the cash office, at the respective campus. Price must be quoted in Kenya Shillings and should be inclusive of all taxes and delivery costs, and shall remain valid for a period of 180 days from the closing date of tender. Duly completed tender documents in a plain sealed envelope bearing the tender number should be posted to the address shown below or deposited in the tender box at the respective Campus so as to be received on or before November 21, 2018 at 10.30am. Tenders will be opened immediately after the closing time in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend the opening at the respective Campus boardroom. The Director General Kenya School of Government P. O. Box 23030-00604, Nairobi Tenders must be accompanied by a Tender Security of Kshs. 100,000 in form of a guarantee from a reputable bank or from an insurance company approved by PPRA payable to the Director General, Kenya School of Government. There will be a pre-bid Conference on November 9, 2018 at 11.00am at the respective Campuses. All interested bidders are encouraged to attend the pre-bid conference. Ag. Supply Chain Manager FOR: DIRECTOR-GENERAL 12 13 AMPATHPlus, a Program managed by Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) and funded by USAID invites sealed tenders from interested and eligible bidders for the following No Tender Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Supply and delivery of Computers such as HP Supply and delivery of Laptops such as HP Supply and delivery of UPS such as APC or BPC Supply and delivery of Tablets and Ipads Supply and delivery of Mobile Phones Supply and delivery of Toners and Cartridges such as HP Supply and delivery of Printers such as HP Provision of Design and printing services Provision of Car Hire services Provision of Air Ticketing services Provision of hospitality services –Conference and outside catering services Supply and delivery of medical equipment Supply and delivery of tyres and tubes Eligibility Tender Number Opening dates MTRH/T/77/2018 Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open MTRH/T/78/2018 MTRH/T/79/2018 MTRH/T/80/2018 MTRH/T/81/2018 MTRH/T/82/2018 MTRH/T/83/2018 MTRH/T/84/2018 MTRH/T/85/2018 MTRH/T/86/2018 MTRH/T/87/2018 MTRH/T/88/2018 MTRH/T/89/2018 Open 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 20th November, 2018 Complete set of Tender documents shall be obtained by interested Bidders free of charge from MTRH official website: www.mrth.go.ke, state tender portal: https/supplier.treasuary.go.ke publication. Tender bids in plain sealed envelopes bearing the tender number (in bold) on the top right hand corner but with no indication of tenderer’s name should be placed in tender Box ‘’B’’ situated on the second floor left wing of the main building of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) or posted to The Chief Executive Officer Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital P.O BOX 3-30100 ELDORET So as to be received on or before 20th November, 2018 at 10.00 am. Bids will be opened publicly immediately thereafter in the presence of bidders or their representatives who choose to attend at AMPATH Centre 1st floor, ATI Hall Room 118. Late bids will not be accepted whatsoever and shall be returned unopened. Companies owned by Youth, Women and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to participate.All queries regarding this tender should be directed to the Supply Chain Manager- AMPATHPlus. DR. WILSON K. ARUASA, MBS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Telephone: 254 53 2033471/2P.O. BOX 4606, ELDORET Fax: 254 53 2060727 TENDER NOTICE

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