A tribute to Dr. Amos Kibata Githeko, an Eye Health Hero

Abstract

A tribute is an act or statement that shows gratitude, respect or admiration. Dr. Amos Kibata Githeko who passed into eternity on Tuesday afternoon September 17th, 2024 evoked all these in life and in death. There are many, young and old who were grateful for his numerous acts of kindness and admired his courageous yet humble approach. Those who did not know of his works got to hear them in written and spoken tributes and the reactions were the same as those who knew him in life. The ophthalmology community and thousands of patients have lost an icon.

When did Dr. Kibata become an ophthalmologist, and what a great one he was? According to the medical board it was the day he earned his specialist registration. In this article I opine that he became what he is earlier than we thought. How did he become so great? What can we learn from his life? The answers depend on who you ask. I will delve into this question as you read along. It is said that success has many fathers and failure is an orphan. Many would therefore wish to claim to be a part in his success. I say this because it is hard to tell the story of Dr. Kibata in isolation. There was a host of people sent his way to make him who he was.