TOP AMERICAN UNIVERSITY TO PROMOTE MEDICAL RESEARCH IN NANDI COUNTY
A Memorandum of Understanding between the County Government of Nandi and The University of Kansas Medical Centre (KU-MED), Kansas City has began to bear fruits.
The University has installed a web-based system known as HIT System at the Kapsabet County Referral Hospital. This is an HIV-Infant Tracking system tool that is developed developed in response to a simple need – the tracking of infants born to HIV-positive mothers in under-resourced nations around the world.
HIT System ensures the early-initiation of ART for HIV-positive infants and to relieve social stigma for infants who have not contracted the virus. This is made possible because the number of days for tracking of specimens and reporting of results is reduced.
The Dean and Professor in the School of Health Professions, Prof. Abioudun Akinwuntan, visited Nandi and held a meeting with the CECM for Health and Sanitation Ruth Koech and other officials. Prof. Abioudun stated that the University will support the County’s efforts in improving its health systems.
In particular, Prof. Abioudun said areas of focus will be addressing communicable diseases, among other infectious diseases. Other areas of concern will include training and educational exchange programs. Immediate action points by KU-MED will be visitations, training and sustainability.
It will be remembered that Governor Stephen Sang during his visit to Kansas City in 2018, signed an MOU with The University of Kansas Medical Centre. The MOU is aimed at boosting cultural, educational and research cooperation and to improve health outcomes in specified areas of the Health Sector in the County.
The agreement was inked by the University of Kansas Chancellor, Douglas Girod and the University of Kansas Medical Centre Vice Chancellor, Robert Simari Klein for the University.
The agreement covers sponsorship activities for educational experiences, exchange programs for research personnel and graduate students, joint research, exchange of academic materials such as research reports and exchange of information especially in the medical field.
The agreement covers sponsorship activities for educational experiences, exchange programs for research personnel and graduate students. others include joint research, exchange of academic materials such as research reports and exchange of information especially in the medical field.
The County Government of Nandi on her part, will facilitate the University by allowing its personnel to use its health facilities for Medical Research purposes as well as provide policy and strategic direction on implementation of activities agreed upon by the two parties.
“Through collaborative, funded work on specific projects, we are certain that we’ll improve the health sector in our County,” said Koech.
The team toured Kapsabet County Referral Hospital and Prof. Abioudun thanked the county leadership for transforming and equipping the facility with modern equipments.
Present at the meeting were Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Services Sally Kemboi, Chief Officer Medical Services Dr. Paul Lagat, Director Administration and Operations Dr. Philemon Bureti among other County Health Management officials.