The Uasin Gishu County Department of Health, on Wednesday held a meeting with officials from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

The objective of this meeting was to establish a collaboration between the County and KEMRI in addressing and managing the challenges faced by the healthcare sector within the county.

During the meeting, County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Dr. Abraham Serem emphasized various challenges, including the reliance on the national Government for data.

He expressed the Department’s willingness to collaborate with KEMRI.

Dr. Serem said that the partnership with KEMRI, will enhance its capacity to collect and analyze data independently, leading to more informed and effective decision-making in the future.

He said their effort to collaborate will contribute significantly towards building a strong healthcare system capable of delivering high-quality services.

“The collaboration with KEMRI signifies a giant leap forward in the county’s quest to provide comprehensive and innovative healthcare solutions,”said Dr. Serem.

Chief Officers Dr. Joyce Sang (Clinical Services) and Dr. Paul Wangwe (Promotive Health), stressed the importance of efficient disease surveillance and control.

They said that KEMRI has considerable expertise in this area and has played a key role in handling outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19.

They expressed their interest in gaining knowledge from KEMRI’s proficiency and applying effective strategies for disease surveillance and control in Uasin Gishu County.

KEMRI’s Regional Coordinator, Dr. Joseph Mutai, emphasized the importance of establishing a sustainable funding model for research projects. He acknowledged that various institutions conduct research but often hesitate to share their findings, despite having the same objective.

Dr. Mutai stressed the need for sufficient budget allocation from the national government to support health development at the county level.

On his part Dr. Aggrey Mokaya, a senior research scientist from the KEMRI graduate school, emphasized the importance of making research agendas accessible to both the county and national governments. This inclusivity ensures that valuable research outcomes can be utilized effectively for the benefit of all.