>: The interview of Joshua Noreh (test tube babies)

He was an orphan, he is now a celebrity
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Another inspiring story from Kenya, this exeplifies the tanatious nature of the generation thats going to change my country. Kudos Joshua.

Taken from The East African Standard Friday 12th 2006
By Abiya Achola

Doctor Joshua Noreh, the man behind the historic medical achievement of In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) was an orphan who made it in school through sheer determination.


Dr Joshua Noreh, during the interview yesterday

Although he was orphaned at a tender age of five years, today, the 46-year-old gynaecologist has risen to the charts of Kenya’s most treasured medics. He cruised through difficulties to turn around his situation. But even as he was steeled by his determination to make it in life, he probably never thought that he would change the course of medicine in his country. Today Prof Noreh is basking in the glory of giving Kenya the first test tube baby through the Intro Vitro Technology now in wide use in the developed world.

Noreh’s mother, Priscilla, died when he was five while his father Elisha passed on six years later. The demise of his parents left him in the hands of his eldest sister Neddy Mudereganyi Noreh and Wilson Godia Noreh. Neddy worked with Barclays Bank while Godia is the director of Kenya Society for the Blind. In the hands of these two, a national celebrity was nurtured.

A visit to his home in Voi village in Kapsengere location portrays humility. His house, on the three-acre land, is an old Victorian brick house constructed by his father way back in 1965.

The second last-born child in a family of seven, Dr Noreh was brought up in a strict Christian family attending the local Pentecostal Assemblies of God Church or Anglican Church.

The orphaned family passed through difficult times. Although Neddy and Godia paid for his school fees, the young Joshua supplemented this by engaging in cabbage production, which he sold at the market.


A young Joshua Noreh (seated left) with his family members in a file photo in the early 1960’s

While at the University, Dr Noreh continued with farming Sukuma Wiki, (Kales) which he sold and got pocket money. He, in fact, bought a pick up truck from the proceeds.

Dr Noreh’s history is one of humility, respect and hard work. He made a timetable while at home, which he strictly followed as if it was a Bible.

"He is a God fearing man and a teetotaller. Even after making it to the university to study medicine, pride never took over his manners," said Neddy.

She says her younger sibling was always good in sciences and often wanted to be a physician after at a tender age the young Joshua witnessed a horrifying train accident and watched helplessly as victims bled and writhed in pain.

"We are happy that our son has soared high in medicine. It is satisfying that he comes from such humble background," Neddy told The Saturday Standard at the quiet home in the picturesque Aldai area of the Nandi escarpment.

In April 2004, Dr Noreh approached Neddy with the idea that he planned to undertake a delicate experiment on IVF.

Because charity begins at home, he asked the local church in Kapsengere to pray for him as he undertook the fragile task.

"He asked me to ask the church here to pray for him. He said the aim was not to make huge profits but to assist the many couples who cannot have children," she said adding that the success of Dr Noreh’s experiment was the joy of the family, relatives and church who have given him support through prayer.

Rev Benjamin Saina of ACK Gambo Parish said the gynaecologist has continuously briefed him on the progress of the IVF project.

"Basically, I am a conservative so I grilled him and he told me the intention was to give hope to couples who cannot afford to go overseas to have IVF and yet they want children. I readily accepted and I have prayed for the project," said Rev Saina.

He said the community was jubilant that their son had made a big difference. "He has brought hope to many disadvantaged couples," he said.

"Just before the press highlighted the new development, Dr Noreh had already telephoned us saying he was almost through with the experiment and we should be prepared for the major announcement," said Rev Saina.

Neddy says there was jubilation in the village adding the family has hosted several delegations from local churches who have paid tribute to the doctor.

"We are planning a grand reception for our son. Many people have pledged to come and it will be a real party coupled with prayers because this was God’s glory," she said.

Dr Noreh was born in 1960 to Elisha Noreh and Priscilla Angano. He went to Nyang’ori Primary School and Nyang’ori Secondary. He scored a Division One with 17 points and proceeded to Mangu High School for his A-Levels.

He joined the University of Nairobi for a bachelor’s degree in medicine. He completed in 1987 and worked at the Kakamega Provincial Hospital until 1991 before starting a clinic in Nairobi.

Neddy says that Dr Noreh’s success is a big lesson to other orphans that they should not give up hope in life but work hard so that they could make a difference in the society