by Lorraine Anyango Opondo
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital’s, (JOOTRH’s ) specialized training is gaining confidence among learning institutions far and wide, the latest being Kabarack university.
In pursuit for the rare specialized training, Kabarak university signed an MOU with JOOTRH for placement of it’s school of medicine and health science and school of pharmacy students.
With this MOU in place, Kabarak University students will enter a dynamic world of team based –medical practice that will offer top notch experience.
The partnership between the two institutions will also strengthen health care-education continuum as well as give opportunity for joint conduct of research/application of research grants.
A high-level delegation from Kabarak University led by Vice Chancellor Prof.Henry Kiplangat was at JOOTRH to participate in the MOU signing ceremony hosted by the CEO of JOOTRH Dr George Rae.
“This MOU couldn’t have come at a better time than now,” Dr Rae said, noting that currently JOOTRH is a certified and approved institution to offer training on surgery, anesthetics as well as training nurses, adding that the hospital is working on providing advance cancer treatment.
“Student will interact with great value from us and they will have mass experience” Dr Rae added.
“We hope to work together in the development of joint innovations in health care and other pertinent sectors as well as future development of joint academic programs.” Dr Rae said.
The two institutions committed to capitalize on each other’s strength to make health care better “We are soon putting up the Kabarak University Teaching and Referral Mission Hospital, we are positioned to learn from the long-term experience of JOOTRH as a referral center.” Prof. Kiplangat said.
Currently the hospital has admitted approximately 62 students from Kabarak university since last year, each rotation Kabarak University sends about 28 students on average.
In the MOU Kabarak university recognized that JOOTRH has strengths in research and development, infrastructure and existing staff expertise in various disciplines.
The MOU, both institutions are convinced that the necessity of cooperation and reciprocity in the support, maintenance of the services, facilities and resources will benefit patients, and the process of teaching and research.
DR Carolyn wafula, Head of Training and Research department at JOOTRH emphasized that Kabarak university will provide personal protective equipment (PPE’s and sanitizers as per the ministry of health (MOH’s) guidelines. “Kabarak University is also to ensure that students have evidence-based certificate for Covid 19 training obtained prior to admission in the clinical area.” She added.
Dimensions of responsibility
JOOTRH having being recommended by the Nursing council of Kenya is having a big impact in the region. Every three months JOOTRH admits about 1000 student on internship and attachment. The universities currently sending students to JOOTRH for attachment and internship includes Maseno, Uzima, Great lakes, University of Eastern Africa Baraton and Masinde Muliro.
Other medical training colleges whose students gets to practice at JOOTRH are Kisumu, Nyabondo ,Lake Victoria, Kindu Adventis, Homabay , Maseno KMTC, and Joan School of Nursing and the JOOTRH school of nursing.
To aid in training the institutions provide clinical officers while the government pays stipend for mentors to take the students through their program.
JOOTRH is also in collaborations with Maseno university offering an ongoing master’s program in family health. surgery and obstetrics/ gyenachology.
To further its training mandate JOOTRH set up a school of training, has students undertaking higher diploma in nephrology. So far the institution has trained four classes. There are two classes running concurrently, one with 12 students , while another 7 students are currently at Kenyatta National Hospital for their practicals.
