91�� - Health

91�� Centre for Healthcare and Innovation Commissioned

d.omido — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 06:27:26 +0000

Friday, July 29, 2022

It was a momentous occasion for the 91�� as the Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama commissioned the state of the Art Centre for Healthcare and Innovation located in Westlands, Nairobi County.

The centre houses projects that have had a great impact on the health sector in the country, namely Fahari ya Jamii, a USAID funded-project aims at increasing equitable access and use of quality county-led health services in Nairobi and Kajiado Counties. It also houses Central Province Response: Integration, Strengthening and Sustainability Project Plus (CRISSP+) project. CRISSP+ aims at building the capacity of the public health response in Kirinyaga and Kiambu counties to achieve and maintain universal access to high quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services, with particular focus on county government and community ownership, integration within broader health and developmental context, through an evidence based, cost-effective and sustainable model of care.

Speaking during the ceremony, Prof. Kiama lauded the University's efforts for being a one-stop hub for research and innovation in Kenya and Africa.

“The 91�� is one of the universities selected by donors to accelerate research on health and innovation” Said Prof. Kiama

Prof. Kiama also congratulated the team led by Dr. Jared Mecha and Prof. C.F. Otieno for launching the 'Centre for Healthcare and Innovation' saying it will foster the much-needed health innovations.

''I am pleased to note that the 91��, in collaboration with various donors, has continued to show that it is possible to improve the current health systems and treat our patients with dignity.

I wish to sincerely thank our donors for the financial support towards research and strengthening health systems across the facilities we support,'' Prof. Kiama said.

CRISSP+ Project Principal Investigator, Dr. Mecha said the launch of the center was a great milestone not only for 91�� but for the entire healthcare center in the country.

Written by: Faith Musau & Dennis Omido

Health

9 Students Scale Mount Kenya for Health and well-being

enekesa — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 14:12:26 +0000

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

7 91�� and 2 Mount Kenya University students are set to hike Mt. Kenya on 14-17 July 2022 to raise awareness of the #O3plus project. The project aims at sensitizing the youth on their #health and #wellbeing. The #O3plus, Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future are the three pillars that the project is pegged on. With support from the Swedish Government, UNESCO and the two institutions have employed different activities to sensitize the young people in institutions of Higher Learning on the #O3plus project.

While giving his opening remarks, the 91�� leader of the #O3plus project , Prof. Walter Jaoko noted that, the students have been through 6 preparatory hikes and they have been given rigorous training by Outdoorer KE, ‘We have popularize the #O3plus here but we now need to shout it out from the Mountain top. Mt. Kenya is symbolic because it’s the highest mountain in Kenya and the flag of Kenya, the constitution have been deposited at the Lenana peak and that’s how much we value our young people’s rights, lives and their future.’

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama recounted his experience of hiking Mt. Kenya. How cold and tough the days and nights were and how the terrain was. He shared his thoughts of giving up along the way. He shared his experience while congratulating the students who have set aside their time to go through the training and to mount the #O3plus flag at the highest peak of the Mt. Kenya.

On his part, the Mount Kenya University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, took the time to encourage the students and citing that after the hike experience they will be different individuals who will be tackling life’s challenges differently. He profiled the efforts the University has made towards sensitization and creating awareness of the #O3plus project among the students and the youth in Thika through the University.

Dr. Medhin Tsehaiu, UNAIDS Country Director, noted that the #O3Plus Objectives are promoting the Global AIDS Strategy and contributing to the UNAIDS Triple 95 and Triple 10 initiatives.

UNESCO Regional Director, Prof. Hubert Gijzen, through his speech congratulated the 9 students who are going to hike Mount Kenya and enjoy the alpine trail. He also highlighted the achievements of #O3plus since its inception in 2021. He mentioned that it’s about time we focus on the young people’s health and wellbeing, increase their activity even as we take care of the environment.

Ministry of Sports representative Mr. Festus Njera, pledged the ministry’s support to this students and congratulated them on this feat.

Watch the flag-off ceremony

#heights4health

O3plus, 91��, 91��, Health, wellbeing

91�� and Damu-Sasa to research on Improvement of Blood Management Services

enekesa — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 12:15:45 +0000

Monday, June 6, 2022

The 91�� was confirmed as the Public Research Organization for the Research and Development (R&D) Impact Project - a project conducted by the Damu-Sasa blood services management system - a cloud-based system that supports blood sourcing, inventory management, transfusion management, haemovigilance, referrals and deferrals.

The R&D Impact Project conducted by Damu-Sasa in partnership with the 91�� is expected to help in understanding the behavioural factors that influence blood donor decisions and also promote the uptake of this technology in local hospitals, in the management of blood transfusion. This project is funded by the International Devepment Research Center (IDRC), Canada through Vilgro- Africa, an incubator and impact investor supporting emerging healthcare businesses in Africa.

The Damu Sasa Project will be the beneficiary of a study to be conducted by the team from The 91�� led by Prof. Vincent Machuki from the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS). The other Researchers include Prof. Evans Aosa and Dr. Kennedy Ogollah (FBMS), Dr. Khamati Shilabukha and Dr. Kibet Shikuku of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) respectively.

The Executive Chairman Dr Matunda Nyanchama and the cofounders of Damu-Sasa System Limited, Mr Aaron Ogunde and Mr Kilemi Thambura deliberated about the project with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the 91�� (91��) Professor Julius Ogengo during a courtesy call visit.

“The 91�� will undertake the research whose output will help Damu-Sasa advance its technological leadership in this field, which will be of great benefit to the general public and the Ministry of Health to resolve the issues of blood shortages in the country”, remarked Dr Matunda.

The project will inculcate Industry-Academia linkages between the 91�� and Damu-Sasa and is expected to have an impact on all stakeholders, viz: the 91�� who will continue to raise the bar on research excellence through multi-disciplinary collaboration, Damu Sasa will use the findings to be able to enhance the technology and the Ministry of Health will benefit in terms of informing policy on addressing key issues in the blood services in the blood value chain in Kenya and the general public who will benefit in regards to the availability of blood reserves.

“From the health perspective, blood may be looked at as an important issue, but from a social perspective, it has a lot of cultural undertones that we may not be aware of until we dig into perspectives and superstitions” noted Dr Khamati. “This is why this project is very important to carry out and understand from a cultural perspective.” he asserted.

“This project is in line with the University's objectives and the University is committed to responding to those initiatives that have an impact on society” noted Prof Ogengo. He emphasized that the project should be able to inculcate student mentorships because it will help students have industry experience. He gave the go-ahead for the commencement of this project.

The technology developed by Damu-Sasa seeks to disrupt the blood services in the blood value chain. The blood reserves target set by World Health Organization - in regards to the size of Kenya is 1 million units, but Kenya doesn't get to that target. In 2020, the country collected 94,000 units, but due to the efforts made by Damu Sasa and other stakeholders, in 2021, the country collected 250,000 units - the largest amount ever collected in Kenya.

Damu Sasa came out of the first cohort of a programme run by the ministry of ICT called the Presidential Digital Talent Programme, President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the programme at Taifa Hall in 2015.

91��, Damu-Sasa, Partnership, Health, technology

91���� - Health

91���� Centre for Healthcare and Innovation Commissioned

9 Students Scale Mount Kenya for Health and well-being

91���� and Damu-Sasa to research on Improvement of Blood Management Services

91�� - Health

91�� Centre for Healthcare and Innovation Commissioned

91�� and Damu-Sasa to research on Improvement of Blood Management Services