Stakeholders in Research and Innovation are converging in a one week symposium geared towards addressing emerging health risks from immigrant’s influx amid regional conflicts in our surrounding countries.
The event dubbed ‘Research and Innovation for Sustainable Production and livelihoods’ has attracted a wide array of stakeholders including representatives from higher learning institutions, Industries, government bodies, International partners and individuals.
According to Mt. Kenya University Director of Research and Innovations, Dr. Francis Makoha, the platform allows participants to showcase inventive ideas that could lead to pioneering products and services, such as spin-offs and new ventures.
Dr Makoha emphasized the critical need to scale up research and innovation. He stressed that for research to truly benefit society, it must be both innovative and transformative, particularly in addressing the pressing social and economic challenges facing the country.
He highlighted that when embraced, innovations can grow into thriving businesses, providing much-needed employment opportunities for Kenya’s youth.
One of the key issues Dr. Makoha addressed was the growing health risk posed by the influx of immigrants entering Kenya daily. He pointed out that many immigrants bring infectious diseases that, if undiagnosed at the point of entry, could pose a significant health risk.
Citing an example, he recalled that three years ago, Kenya had been declared measles-free, but recent outbreaks have raised concerns. These cases, he said, stem from undiagnosed immigrant’s children harboring infectious diseases.
Dr. Makoha also drew attention to the recent outbreaks of diseases like monkeypox, which originated in Central Africa, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which spread globally despite originating in China.
He emphasized the importance of implementing robust screening and surveillance measures at entry points to prevent such outbreaks.
However, Dr. Makoha acknowledged that the lack of funding and insufficient support from the donor community and the government remain significant challenges in scaling up research and implementing preventive measures.
Students who attended the event echoed these concerns, expressing surprise that Kenya, despite its independence, continues to grapple with emerging pandemics and other diseases.
Laventa Namai and Elijah Maore, students at MKU, noted the impact of Kenya’s role as a haven for refugees from conflict-ridden neighboring countries. They emphasized the need for innovative solutions to manage the associated health risks.
“This event has been an eye-opener, particularly for those of us pursuing medicine and science,” said Maore, who urged the government and other stakeholders to increase support for student-led research and innovation.
The Annual Research and Innovation Week that started from October 14 to 18, 2024, at Mt Kenya University Thika campus.
Additionally, it aims to strengthen partnerships with industry through the service-learning (SL) initiative, which integrates real-world experience into the academic process.
