The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has renewed its partnership with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), marking a significant milestone in the long-standing health collaboration between the two nations. The announcement was made during an official state visit by Kenyan President William Ruto.

The five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the CDC Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremony, witnessed by President Ruto and key government officials, saw Prof. Elijah Songok, Acting Director General of KEMRI, and Dr. Kayla Laserson, Director of the Global Health Centre at CDC, formalize the agreement.

This renewed MoU aims to enhance collaborative efforts between KEMRI and CDC, focusing on human health research and program implementation both at KEMRI facilities and within Kenyan communities. The partnership will address public health threats and emergencies through research and capacity building. Key areas of focus include the dissemination and application of research findings for policy formulation, training of public health professionals, strengthening research leadership and laboratory capabilities, staff exchanges, and sharing of research information and materials by Kenyan laws.

“KEMRI has been collaborating with CDC for the last four decades, and this important occasion at CDC Headquarters in Atlanta is a celebration of the extensive health partnership between the US and Kenya. It highlights the transformation of our partnership as we look towards addressing the health challenges of the future, particularly in Africa,” said Prof. Songok.

The partnership underscores the significant impact it has had on health outcomes in both countries. This includes 45 years of CDC’s collaboration with Kenya’s public health and laboratory systems, 21 years of partnership through the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the implementation of the Global Health Security Agenda. These initiatives contribute to regional and global health security by strengthening Kenya’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to epidemics and health emergencies.

Additionally, new agreements were signed with the US Health Ministry to bring HIV/AIDS relief to Kenya and to operationalize the Kenya National Public Health Institute. These agreements aim to ensure a trained workforce, support local and regional manufacturing, implement new models of sustaining the national HIV response, and invest in digital health strategies.

The event highlighted sustainable strategies, innovations, and policy commitments that will shape the future of the partnership. By focusing on cutting-edge research and innovative investments in digital health, the collaboration between KEMRI and CDC is set to address the evolving health challenges in Kenya and beyond.

 

Article by RB Correspodent

Photo/KEMRI

https://www.kemri.go.ke/kemri-renews-collaboration-with-cdc-in-atlanta/