KASH - Bridging the Know-Do-Gap between Knowledge and action

Dr. Solomon Mpoke, PhD, MBS,
Director, KEMRI  

Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) Conference is a premier annual forum for health researchers to showcase research carried out by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and her partners in the region. 

The theme of this year’s conference was “Towards a healthy, globally competitive nation: Vision 2030 flagships” focusing on the promotion of Critical Knowledge, Skills and Entrepreneurship for Competitiveness. The conference featured research talks, poster presentations and symposia on Neglected Tropical Diseases, Pharmaceutical & Health Product Innovation and Health Systems & Social Science Research. Key note speaker focused on Vision 2030 health research flagship projects.

The Conference was officially opened by Mr. Mark Bor, PS, Minister for Public Health and Sanitation.

Plenary speeches covered a range of information including early successes of treating HIV-infected people with antiretrovirals; Malaria Vaccine Trial in Kenya; Biorisk management; Research excellence through partnerships and capacity building.
This KASH Conference was the 2nd conference in the series of conferences organized by KEMRI, after earlier conferences dabbed KEMRI-KETRI Conference extended to the African region as African Health Sciences Congress (AHSC). The 2nd KASH conference attracted over 120 Abstracts covering current issues in HIV, AIDS, TB, Malaria, Microbiology, Parasitic Infections & Entomology, Traditional Medicine & Drug Development, Reproductive Health, Non Communicable Diseases, Neglected Tropical Diseases Public Health & Health Systems and Research Ethics & Governance.

The conference took place at the KEMRI Headquarters Nairobi from 8th to 10th February 2011 preceded by a pre-conference symposium on road safety on 7th February 2012. It was anticipated that the pre-conference symposium on road safety would be able to raise awareness about road traffic Accidents & injuries; strengthen demand for road safety; build political will;

  and support ongoing sustainable and collaborative efforts to implement the recommendations of the World report on road traffic injury prevention.

KEMRI prides itself in having a campus in its Nairobi headquarters with adequate Conference facilities able to host three parallel sessions, symposia and a beautiful graduation ground conducive to hosting exhibition booths in a safe and comfortable environment with efficient communication and its accessibility is just a cheap hop away from the central business district.

Jennifer Orwa, PhD, OGW
Chairlady - KASH Committee