The Merck Vaccine Network-Africa has made a $200,000 grant to the School to establish a vaccination services training program for health-care workers, creating a training center at Moi University Faculty of Health Sciences in Eldoret, Kenya. The center will develop a sustainable workforce of medical professionals skilled in vaccine management, storage and delivery.
About 10 percent of Kenyan children die before reaching the age of 5, according to the World Health Organization. Many succumb to diseases preventable through vaccinations.
"There is no single answer to the challenge of increasing access to vaccines in African countries and other developing nations," notes Adel Mahmoud, M.D., president of the Merck Vaccine Division. "It will take multiple organizations applying different approaches and solutions. The MVN-A program is a model aimed at supporting vaccination infrastructure in regions where they remain.
Since 1990, the IU School of Medicine and Moi have worked closely to train faculty, residents and medical students to teach, conduct research and to participate in patient care in Kenya.
"Working within the framework established at Moi and the strong relationships we have forged with our colleagues and others there, we expect to provide the necessary training to make this program succeed," says Edward A. Liechty, M.D., professor of pediatrics and principal investigator at IU School of Medicine.
Fabian Esamai, M.D., professor of pediatrics, is principal investigator at Moi University and is working with Dr. Liechty to implement the program.
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Contact: Joe Stuteville
jstutevi@iupui.edu
317-274-7722
Indiana University
18-Nov-2003