Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a State Corporation established through the Science and Technology (Amendment) Act of 1979, which has since been amended to Science, Technology and Innovation Act 2013. The 1979 Act established KEMRI as a National body responsible for carrying out health research in Kenya.
Every year, 1.7 billion people, most in the world’s poorest areas, are affected by NTDs. The diseases cause suffering, stigma, disability and sometimes death.
Key to preventing cholera is a good supply of water.
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Natural disasters associated with climate change put people at risk of injury and death, and alter the prevalence and distribution of illnesses and infectious diseases.
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Stigma and criminalisation of same-sex relationships makes it difficult for transgender women and men who have sex with men to seek preventive services. This compounds their risk for HIV infection.
A nurse at Amudat Hospital in Northern Uganda, checks on a child being treated for kala-azar. The disease mostly affects children and young adults.
Lameck Ododo
Kala-azar, already one of the most neglected diseases on the planet, is in danger of becoming even more neglected.
A laboratory technician patient samples at the Amudat Hospital, Uganda. Laboratories are central to the delivery of high quality data in clinical trials.
Paul Kamau
Many of these diseases cause tremendous suffering and death – yet there’s still a lack of effective tools to diagnose, treat, and prevent them.
A response led by scientists and researchers must be central to any current and future threats.
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African countries have proven that they have the skills and expertise to provide local solutions to this global pandemic. They need to build on this success together to keep the pandemic at bay.
Kenya’s government have issued a directive that people must wear masks while in public places.
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In Kenya, the Spanish flu caused various forms of social and economic disruption, ranging from social distancing to the suspension of nonessential services and widespread food shortages.
Women are often primary caregivers in their communities.
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Women must be included at decision making levels to advise on development, designing, delivery and implementation of tools that target health issues that affect them especially malaria.
Malaria is a major public health problem that affects 106 countries globally. A rigorous and systematic approach to predict and control malaria transmission is needed.
Hepatitis is a public health concern globally.
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Cholera is caused by a lack of access to clean drinking water and unhygienic conditions. Misuse of antibiotics makes it difficult and expensive to treat outbreaks.
A malaria vaccine will be piloted in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi to assess its suitability.
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Chief Research Officer, Malaria Branch Chief in the KEMRI, CDC and London School of Tropical Medicine Collaborative Program, Kenya Medical Research Institute