Japan partners with MKU to establish a Sh380 million research facility to fight Malaria

Thika,

Sunday, July 16, 2023

K.N.A  by Muoki Charles

Japanese government in partnership with Mt. Kenya University has established a Sh380 million state-of-the-art research laboratory that will help in conducting scientific research on Malaria.

The facility, established at the university's Thika main campus, will be used to research on both traditional and conventional medicine that can completely eradicate malaria in the country, which is one of major killer disease in the country.

Japan's ambassador to Kenya Okaniwa Ken underscored the need to weed out the disease that has continued to become a persistent challenge despite efforts to eradicate it.

Speaking in Thika during the launch of the facility, the ambassador said the collaboration and the facility will be a major milestone in reigniting the fight against the dreaded disease.

He said the disease and the mosquitoes have over time changed tact and developed resistance to drugs, thus a need for more deeply enhanced research methodology to come up with drugs that can eradicate it. 

He further said the research will be on areas of DNA, analysis of people's situation, and whether the available vaccines were still effective. 

"We have some ongoing research in Homabay County where the disease is prominent. The researchers will work closely with those at this facility to come up with new drugs, " Okaniwa said.

While emphasizing on the enhanced partnerships between his country and Kenya, the ambassador said the initiative will scale up activities and help reduce the Malaria prevalence by 2030. 

He added that Japan has been leading in the fight against Malaria around the world and that they are working with other partners including Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Ministry of Health.

MKU's Pro-Chancellor Vincent Gaitho called on other investors and scientists to take advantage of the ultra-modern facility to advance their research and come up with drug manufacturing companies saying that the University had no plans to start manufacturing drugs. 

Gaitho however said Mt Kenya University will take the lead in developing strategies in areas of innovation and research allowing an exchange program in collaborative research, training, and capacity building. 

He said the new collaboration aims to eradicate the disease which claims thousands of lives annually, especially small children and newborn babies.

"With the equipment at the facility and through research on mosquitoes, people, and environments, researchers will be able to come up with effective drugs both conventional and traditional, " Gaitho said.

Courtesy K.N.A