KENYA—The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has renewed its five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the American Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which will continue to enhance Kenya’s cutting-edge research operations.
The historic signing took place at the CDC Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, in front of His Excellency President William Ruto and other top government officials.
Prof Elijah Songok, Acting Director General of KEMRI, signed on behalf of KEMRI, while Dr. Kayla Laserson, Director Global Health Centre, CDC, signed on behalf of the CDC.
This MoU aims to improve mutually beneficial collaboration between KEMRI and the CDC.
The collaboration will include human health research and programme implementation at KEMRI facilities and in Kenyan communities, as well as research and capacity development for public health risks and emergencies.
The partnership will also involve the distribution and use of research findings for policy formation, public health professional training, enhancing research leadership, and laboratory capacities.
Furthermore, the MOU covers staff exchanges, sharing research information and resources in compliance with Kenyan laws, and any other mutually beneficial health-related research activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Sangok stated that KEMRI has been collaborating with the CDC for the last four decades, and that this important occasion at CDC Headquarters—this signing in Atlanta—is a celebration of the extensive health partnership between the US and Kenya, as well as the transformation of their partnership as they look to address future health challenges, particularly in Africa.
According to Prof. Sangok, this collaboration has strengthened health outcomes in both countries.
It includes 45 years of CDC partnership with Kenya’s public health and laboratory systems, 21 years of partnership through the President’s Emergency Programme for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the implementation of the Global Health Security Agenda.
This has contributed to improve regional and global health security by increasing Kenya’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to epidemics and health emergencies.
The event will reflect on our two countries’ successful collaboration and showcase long-term initiatives, innovations, and policy pledges that will shape the future of the cooperation.
These collaborations include guaranteeing a trained workforce, promoting local and regional manufacturing, implementing new methods for sustaining the national HIV response, prioritising cutting-edge research, and making creative investments in digital health solutions.
The KEMRI -CDC research and public health cooperation is currently one of Kenya’s largest public health research collaborations, as well as one of KEMRI and the Ministry of Health’s primary partners.
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