JKUAT commences training of African epidemiologists and biostatisticians
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has received 15 students drawn from Sub-Saharan African countries who are sponsored by the Second European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership to pursue Masters degree programmes in Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
The scholarship beneficiaries comprised of seven students from Kenya, three from Malawi and one each from Rwanda, Namibia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
The postgraduate training initiative is aimed at building capacity for qualified epidemiologists across sub-Saharan Africa who will be tasked with leveraging on reliable epidemiological data to efficiently monitor, analyze and interpret data to inform policy and decision making in the fight against infectious diseases in Africa.
The project titled; Strengthening Capacity for Epidemics Preparedness and Response in sub-Saharan Africa (SCEPRESSA), has been funded under the Second European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) programme which is supported by the EU.
Speaking during the orientation ceremony, recently, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Prof Robert Kinyua, urged the students to take full advantage of the scholarship programme and use the opportunity to be agents of change in their respective countries.
“Take this scholarship opportunity seriously and make use of your skills to be the change that your organization needs,” said Prof Kinyua.
He reminded the students to prioritise their academics and avoid over-indulging in non-academic areas in order to complete their studies within the stipulated timeframe.
While welcoming the students to the University, Prof Kinyua urged them to familiarise themselves with various divisions of the university, such as research, production and extension that will be important in their research enterprise.
Other speakers during the event were the Director, Board of Postgraduate Studies, Prof Turoop Losenge, Prof Kamija Phiri of Malawi University, Deputy Registrar, Academic Affairs, Dr Aggrey Wanyama and, Department of Environmental Health and Disease Control, Dr Susan Mambo and Dr Charles Wafula of
Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development among others.
The project is under the stewardship of Prof Gideon Kikuvi (Principal Investigator) of JKUAT in collaboration with partners in the Ministry of Health, Tropical Institute of Community Health and Development, Kenya and Kamuzu University of Health Science, Malawi.
