Machakos Female Mortician On What Motivated Her to Ditch Patient Attendant Job

 Mary Nzilani, a dedicated mortician at Machakos Level 5 Hospital, has carved an inspiring path in a profession traditionally dominated by men.

Her unique journey from a patient attendant to a mortuary attendant was recently highlighted on Citizen TV's "Mwanamke Bomba" segment, where she shared her compelling story with Mwanahamisi Hamadi.

Nzilani’s professional shift began in 2013. Initially, she worked as a patient attendant at the very same Machakos Level 5 Hospital.

However, she felt a strong call for a different environment, seeking a calmer and more tranquil work setting. This desire led her to apply for a position at the Machakos mortuary.

"I wasn’t sacked from my first job, only that I needed a quiet place because at first, I was doing patient attendance, then I just heard the call and I went and asked in the morgue whether I could work there."While awaiting a response, Nzilani encountered a new development: the construction of Montezuma, which was being established at the time.

Seizing the opportunity, she decided to temporarily set aside her patient attendant aspirations, choosing to work as a manual laborer at the Montezuma site.

During the construction phase, she contributed by carrying water and performing various tasks simply to earn enough for daily meals.

Upon the completion of the construction, Nzilani was asked to undertake cleaning and sweeping duties within the facility until it was officially opened and its equipment, such as machines, were connected.

When the Montezuma facility eventually opened its doors, she formally applied for a cleaning position. It was during this waiting period for her cleaner application that Nzilani made a pivotal decision: she opted to spend a few days at the Level 5 mortuary, aiming to "gain strength and courage" to familiarize herself with the environment of the death.

It was within these initial two or three days that she realized she possessed the fortitude to wash bodies.Her practical learning was swift and hands-on. Nzilani was taught about embalming procedures and post-mortem examinations.

She stated that she acquired this foundational knowledge within approximately one week. During her interview for the position, which took place at Mbagathi Montezuma she was specifically questioned about her understanding of mortuary operations.

Nzilani candidly admitted that she had no prior formal knowledge but responded based on her intense one-week observation, describing how bodies were incised, treated with chemicals, and underwent post-mortem procedures.

Working in the mortuary, Nzilani faced distinct challenges, primarily stemming from the gender imbalance in the profession.

She noted that because she worked predominantly alongside men, there were instances where she felt they might look down on her.

However, she found a significant source of encouragement and strength in a female doctor who conducted post-mortems. This doctor's presence and support served as a powerful reinforcement.

“The challenges I faced there were because I was working with men, now you see they look down on me. But after finding the post-mortem doctor was a woman, I felt that she was