NAIROBI, KENYA – June 23, 2025 – As the world celebrates International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) today, the focus turns to the collective power of collaboration under the timely theme, “Together we engineer.” This theme resonates deeply within Kenya’s burgeoning healthcare technology sector, where organizations like the Oxygen Alliance are championing the crucial role of women in engineering to build resilient and equitable health systems. In a powerful demonstration of this commitment, the Oxygen Alliance joined forces with Women in Biomedical Engineering Kenya (WIBEK) to honor the invaluable contributions of women in the field at the annual WIBEK conference.
The partnership between the Oxygen Alliance, a consortium dedicated to strengthening oxygen ecosystems, and WIBEK, a professional network for Kenyan women in biomedical engineering, highlights a shared vision: a future where every individual has access to life-saving medical technology, driven by a diverse and inclusive engineering workforce.
The biomedical engineering field, a cornerstone of modern healthcare, is responsible for the innovation, development, and maintenance of medical devices and systems. From intricate diagnostic equipment to life-sustaining ventilators, biomedical engineers are at the forefront of patient care. However, like many STEM fields, it has historically seen a significant gender disparity.
Recent data highlights both the progress made and the journey ahead. Globally, while women are increasingly enrolling in STEM courses, they remain underrepresented in the engineering workforce. According to a 2024 report by the Society of Women Engineers, while there has been an increase, women still only constitute a fraction of the engineering workforce globally. In Kenya, the challenge is equally pronounced. According to the Engineers Board of Kenya, as of early 2025, women represent a small but growing percentage of registered engineers in the country.
It is within this context that the work of organizations like the Oxygen Alliance and WIBEK becomes paramount. Through our comprehensive approach to strengthening healthcare systems, we recognize that sustainable healthcare infrastructure is not just about equipment; it is about the skilled individuals who operate and maintain it. By actively engaging with and supporting biomedical engineers, we are building a future that ensures the long-term functionality of medical devices.
Their celebration of Women in Engineering Day at the WIBEK conference served as a powerful platform to amplify the voices and experiences of women who are breaking barriers in the biomedical engineering sector. The conference brought together seasoned professionals, early-career engineers, and students, fostering mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and networking opportunities.
The theme ‘Together we engineer’ encapsulates the very essence of our mission and to build robust healthcare systems, we need all hands on deck. The ingenuity, perspectives, and dedication of women in biomedical engineering are essential and our collaboration with WIBEK is a testament to our commitment to fostering an environment where these talented professionals can thrive.
The WIBEK conference featured panel discussions, technical workshops, and inspiring keynote addresses from leading women in the field. These sessions not only celebrated achievements but also addressed the unique challenges women face, from navigating male-dominated workplaces to balancing demanding careers with societal expectations.
The synergy between the Oxygen Alliance’s focus on a critical healthcare commodity and WIBEK’s dedication to its female workforce creates a powerful ripple effect. Ensuring that more women are not only entering but also excelling and leading in biomedical engineering, but are collectively contributing to a more innovative, responsive, and equitable healthcare system for all Kenyans. The path to universal health coverage and a healthier future is one that must be engineered together, with the full and valued participation of women. Their joint celebration is not just a momentary event, but a cornerstone of a sustained effort to build a stronger, more diverse engineering community that will save lives and shape the future of healthcare in Kenya and beyond.
