February 28, 2025
HJFMRI recently took part in the 15th KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) Conference between February 11-15 in Nairobi, Kenya. This year's conference was grounded on the theme of Research Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Health Systems: a Community Driven Agenda.
During the opening ceremony, the chief guest, Principal Secretary, for the State Department of Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni noted the importance of evidence-based solutions, technology, and innovation in strengthening Kenya’s healthcare sector. Additionally, KEMRI’s Acting Director General, Prof Elijah Songok highlighted the advancement on precision and personalized medicine in Kenya. He further acknowledged the continuous partnerships and commitment with various partners towards scientific research.
HJFMRI welcomed visitors at the exhibition booth to learn more about the mode of support offered by HJFMRI to KEMRI and other partners on research, the various field of medical research involved, areas of collaboration and progress made in the ongoing vaccine trials in Kisumu and Kericho.
In addition to the KASH conference, HJFMRI also took part in a collaborative symposium hosted by WRAIR-Africa. COL Gerald Keller and Prof Elijah Songok, Acting KEMRI Director General, showcased the long standing 50 years of contribution to health research in Kenya. There have been several advancements in vaccine development including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), COVID 19, Ebola, Polio, etc. Therapeutic studies and programs, diseases surveillance, lab capacity development, training and technical support to facilitate research are some of the results of the 50-year partnership.
HJFMRI was privileged to have 12 scientific abstracts presentations during the conference, two of which received awards. Congratulations to Nancy Otieno and Victor Opere for their awards.
"Performance of Surveillance Case Definitions for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infections through the National Sentinel Surveillance System for Influenza and other Respiratory Pathogens in Kenya, 2024" by Nancy Otieno
"Documentation Practices in Health Care Facilities: Experiences from Data Abstraction to Inform Threshold for Severe Acute Respiratory Illness and Influenza-associated Hospitalization in Kenya" by Victor Opere
Other abstracts presented include:
"Contribution of Severe Acute Respiratory Illness to Febrile Convulsions and Clinical Outcomes among Pediatric Patients in Kenya, 2019-2024" by Juma Maleve
"Profile: Cohort for Acute Respiratory Disease Surveillance among Pregnant Women and their Infants in Western Kenya (Maternal-Infant Cohort Platform)" by Victor Opere
"Chronic Heart Disease and Clinical Outcomes among Children with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness: Implications for Management Strategies" by Milka Bunei
"Impact of Malnutrition on Clinical Outcomes among Children Hospitalized with Severe Acute Respiratory illness from 2019 - 2024 in Kakuma and Dadaab Refugee Camp Hospitals in Kenya" by Joel Machuki
"Acute Respiratory Illnesses and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Kenya’s Referral Hospitals, 2017-2024" by Peter Kinuthia
"Predicting Influenza activity in Kenya using Google trends data: A complimentary approach to National Influenza surveillance system" by Jorim Ayugi
"Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) among Infants in Western Kenya, 2023-2024" by Denis Omondi
"Impact of Acute Respiratory Infection on Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes in Maternal-infant Cohort Study, Western Kenya, 2015-2024" by Michael Otieno
