Collaborative efforts between Aga Khan University (AKU) and the County government of Kilifi are set to increase in 2023 following an extension of support by Kilifi County’s County Executive for Health and Sanitation Services, Hon Peter Mwarogo.
Hon Mwarogo lauded AKU’s efforts in health research and capacity building and vowed to maintain the synergy between the two entities while speaking at the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa’s (CoEWCH EA) strategic meeting.
“I am utterly impressed by the work Aga Khan University and the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa, have been doing here in Kilifi. Your impact is undeniable. I would like to urge you to keep up the good work. I assure you that the Department of Health will continue to offer you our full support,” said Hon Mwarogo.
Such collaboration is instrumental in improving the quality of care and enhancing access to affordable maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services in remote groups and vulnerable populations in Kilifi County. It also strengthens AKU’s capacity in research, training, and learning.
Prof Marleen Temmerman, Director, CoEWCH EA said, “We are very grateful for the support we continue to receive from the County Government of Kilifi. Our partnership has played a huge role in our quest to improve the health and wellbeing of women, adolescents, and children in Kilifi. We look forward to building this relationship to increase the impact of our work to the people of Kilifi.”
CoEWCH EA has previously partnered with the County Government of Kilifi in several research projects including AQCESS (Access to Quality Care through Extending and Strengthening Health Systems) in collaboration with Aga Khan Foundation and funded by Global Affairs Canada; PRECISE (Pregnancy Care Integrating Translational Science, Everywhere), funded by the UKRI, Global Challenges Research fund, which investigated three important complications of pregnancy: hypertension, foetal growth restriction and stillbirth; and Mimba Yangu (My Pregnancy), funded by Philips Foundation, which sought to assess the role of technology in access to quality maternal services and enhancement of birth preparedness.
They continue to partner with them in ongoing projects such as iMAMA (Prospective data collection of obstetric ultrasound scans for development of AI solutions), funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which aims to collect ultrasound imaging data to design and develop algorithms for detection of the basic obstetric ultrasound screening parameters; and WHEELER (Women in Health and their Economic, Equity and Livelihood statuses during Emergency Preparedness and Response), funded by International Development Research Centre, which will use a human-centered design to provide evidence on the health, economic and societal impacts of COVID-19 and its mitigation measures on the female healthcare workforce.
CoEWCH EA also partners with Kenya’s Ministry of Health and Nairobi and Mombasa County governments in various projects and aims to increase its government relations to confront the challenges in women, child, and adolescent health in East Africa.
