By Lorraine Anyango

The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has secured a grant of 4 Million Kenyan shillings from the Academy of Medical Sciences Global Challenges Research Fund Networking Grant Scheme to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Lake Victoria Basin.

This grant will support the activities of the newly formed UK-Africa Network. This network brings together partners from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, South Africa, and the UK to strengthen environmental initiatives to monitor and control the spread of AMR. Kenyan partners include JOOTRH, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, and KIWASCO.

Part of the resources have been used to launch the network at a workshop held at the Grand Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu. Additionally, a publication based on the network’s research has been submitted to a special issue of the respected open-access journal ‘Nature Communications’.

On June 20, 2024, Dr. Mitchel Okumu, Director of Research at JOOTRH, led a team that met with community members in Nyalenda B, Kisumu County. The team, which also included Mr. Silverster Ong’udi (Dept of Water, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, County Government of Kisumu), Prof. William Shivoga, and Prof. Francis Orata from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), presented a research proposal to the community. The purpose of the meeting was to gather feedback from the community and ensure their ownership of the research process. A Community Advisory Board was also established at the meeting. The board includes a chair, vice-chair, youth representative, and a representative for people living with disabilities.

Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, CEO of JOOTRH, has signed off on a letter of support for the project. This letter will be used to secure an additional 461 million Kenyan shillings to fund staff training on AMR mitigation at JOOTRH and purchase a VITEK-2 analyzer for the hospital’s laboratory.

This project is a major step forward for JOOTRH’s Directorate of Research. It will allow JOOTRH to play a leading role in combating AMR in the Lake Victoria Basin and contribute to a healthier future for the region.