For Anne Kagotho, nursing has always been more than a profession. It is both a passion and a calling.
As the Clinical Coordinator for NeuroKids in Kijabe, Kenya, Anne brings together years of experience in pediatric nursing, counseling psychology, and community leadership to support children living with hydrocephalus and spina bifida, as well as the families who care for them.
Before joining NeuroKids, Anne served as a pediatric nurse at Kijabe Hospital and later worked as a project director with a Compassion International-supported program. Yet when the opportunity to join NeuroKids arrived, it felt deeply familiar.
“Joining NeuroKids felt like coming back home to do what I always love doing,” Anne shares.
That work centers on walking alongside children and families who are often facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Across many communities, children born with hydrocephalus and spina bifida can experience stigma, rejection, and barriers to care. Anne believes every child deserves dignity, support, and access to life-saving treatment.
At NeuroKids, that belief is put into action every day.
NeuroKids partners with local hospitals, surgeons, and care teams to help children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida live longer and better lives through health systems strengthening, specialized training, essential equipment, mentorship, and ongoing support. These efforts help expand access to high-quality pediatric neurosurgical care and improve outcomes for children who might otherwise go untreated.
For Anne, the impact of this work is deeply personal.
“Early treatment leads to improved outcomes and enhances the quality of life for affected children,” she explains.
As a Coordinator, Anne serves as a vital link between patients, families, and the neurosurgical team. She helps ensure that every child receives comprehensive, multidisciplinary care. Her role includes providing education, guidance, psychosocial support, and follow-up care for families navigating complex medical journeys.
She coordinates clinic appointments, postoperative evaluations, and ongoing assessments to help ensure that children receive the care they need long after surgery.
Anne also supports training efforts for clinical staff and caregivers, helping families understand best practices for managing hydrocephalus and spina bifida after treatment. In addition, she serves as the data manager for NeuroKids in Kijabe, working alongside neurosurgeons to maintain accurate patient records, treatment information, follow-up data, and outcomes reporting.
Behind every report, every clinic visit, and every follow-up call is a commitment to improving the lives of children and strengthening systems of care.
What continues to motivate Anne is seeing transformation happen in real time.
“My motivation to continue working with NeuroKids stems from the profound fulfillment that I experience in witnessing patients thrive after receiving the life-changing interventions,” she says.
Just as meaningful are the moments when families regain hope.
Anne helps parents better understand their child’s condition and navigate the challenges ahead. Those interactions often become turning points for families who have felt overwhelmed, isolated, or uncertain about the future.
One aspect of NeuroKids’ approach that Anne especially values is its commitment to family-centered care.
Recognizing that many families face financial and logistical challenges, NeuroKids supports continuity of care beyond the hospital whenever possible. Some families travel long distances for appointments, making follow-up care difficult and costly. Through coordinator-led home visits, NeuroKids helps ensure that children continue receiving support in their own communities.
Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Every family deserves support. And through dedicated leaders like Anne Kagotho, more children living with hydrocephalus and spina bifida are receiving the care they need to build brighter futures.
