KENYA—Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), a state organization responsible for human health research, has been challenged to enhance its surveillance and emergency response programs.

This enhancement will enable the country to swiftly detect outbreaks and respond promptly to emerging threats.

This critical information was unveiled during the formal launch of the fifth KEMRI/Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Country Training Programme (TCTP) held in Nairobi.

In attendance were distinguished guests including the Ambassador of Japan to Kenya, H.E. Ken Okaniwa; JICA Country Representative, Mr. Iwama Hajime; KEMRI Chairman, Board of Directors, Dr. Abdullahi Ali; and KEMRI Ag. Director General & CEO, Prof. Elijah Songok, among others.

The TCTP brought together 14 participants from 10 African countries, namely Kenya, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Tanzania.

The training initiative, dubbed ‘Strengthening Laboratory Preparedness for Building Resilience Against Public Health Emergencies in Eastern Africa,’ is geared towards improving the continent’s ability to respond, prepare, and prevent epidemics, pandemics, and other critical health crises.

During the training, Mr Kimutai underscored the importance of bolstering laboratory capacity and preparedness in the fight against public health emergencies in Eastern Africa.

He also highlighted the program’s potential to strengthen the continent’s capacity to address epidemics, pandemics, and other public health crises such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Mr. Kimtai emphasized the Ministry’s dedication to enhancing the country’s health infrastructure and building national and local capacities, which includes establishing efficient, transparent, equitable, and responsible health systems while vigorously supporting research and development activities.

 The PS emphasized the pivotal role that a healthy population plays in Kenya’s journey towards becoming a middle-income country, asserting that due to Kenya’s regional significance, health infrastructure improvement is imperative for the success of the national immunization program.

The TCTP also aims to empower laboratory managers and other associated staff across Eastern Africa through fostering collaborations and encouraging information exchange to enhance the region’s collective readiness for health crises.

KEMRI is renowned for its crucial role in managing disease outbreaks and preparing for public health emergencies.

The KEMRI/JICA collaboration, founded in 1979 and active for four decades, focuses on partnerships in health research development through various means, including technical cooperation, capacity building, and grant aid.

Over the years, KEMRI’s research efforts have contributed to the reduction of infectious diseases like diarrhoea, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and parasitic disorders such as malaria, schistosomiasis (commonly known as bilharzia), and jigger infestations.

This partnership also supports the construction of laboratories, the procurement of medical equipment, and the provision of specialized training, aiding KEMRI in its quest to become Africa’s premier health research center.

KEMRI/JICA collaborations were instrumental in supplying resources and equipment like testing kits and consumables during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They also continued to admit international students for human resource development in the field of infectious disease control.

Moreover, KEMRI has strengthened its research, training, and human resource development through technical cooperation and ODA financial aid.

One notable achievement of the KEMRI/JICA collaboration is the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Creation (SATREPS) Project, which led to the development of rapid diagnostic tests between 2012 and 2017.

KEMRI’s affiliation with the Nagasaki University Institute of Tropical Medicine has allowed it to conduct cutting-edge biomedical research in Kenya and promote its development.

This has significantly enhanced infectious disease testing, establishing KEMRI as a leading research centre for infectious disease control.

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