Director of Medical Services (DMS) Major General (Dr) George Ng’ang’a today hosted the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) Commander, Colonel Eliab Lozano, at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi.
Speaking during the meeting aimed at strengthening ties and seeking new avenues to work together in medical research, Maj Gen Ng’ang’a emphasized the importance of the partnership between KDF and WRAIR and termed it as critical in ensuring good health for soldiers and their families.
The Director further highlighted the importance of medical research in identifying infectious diseases and finding ways of curbing their spread. He made emphasis on mental health, which is crucial to a soldier’s well-being. He further noted that KDF had deployed welfare officers and doctors in every station and also established a Wellness Centre at Lang’ata, for the rehabilitation of soldiers with mental health conditions.
Maj Gen Ng’ang’a thanked WRAIR for its collaboration with KDF in medical research and its zest for finding possible solutions for infectious diseases. He also hoped for more engagements and future partnerships, to ensure the effective establishment and utilization of research resources for the benefit of both Countries.
On his part, WRAIR Commander Colonel Eliab Lozano expressed his satisfaction with the partnership between KDF and WRAIR terming it a wonderful model of the two States.
“I believe that the partnership between WRAIR and KDF serves as a wonderful model for the United States and Kenya,” he said.
Col Eliab went ahead to endorse his support to the already existing collaboration between Kenya and the United States, urging the KDF fraternity to continue engaging in joint medical research to ensure the utilization of research resources and provision of a conducive environment for surveillance, training and educating the soldiers on infectious diseases.
As a leading research Institute in the world, WRAIR has collaborated with KDF on various medical research projects.
Present during the meeting was, the Chief of Medical Services at the Defence Headquarters, Brigadier Dr. Atanasias Odhiambo, senior WRAIR (US) Officers, and senior KDF Officers.
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