Medical science experts have been asked to step up research and community service to effectively deal with pandemics and other health burdens.
Prof Chacha Nyaigoti Chacha, the chairman of the Council for University Education (CUE), has asked graduates to invest more in outreach and community service, saying Kenyan villages are struggling to access medical facilities and experts.
Speaking on November 24 at the Uzima University graduation ceremony, the don challenged the new graduates to leave their comfort zones and operate across the world since Uzima has the CUE accreditation that puts it par with others across the world.
“Go out there and mitigate the medical challenges; the world is grappling with pandemics, including the HIV, Ebola, Covid, and more pandemics are coming,” he told the 179 graduands at the Kisumu-based institution that focuses on medical courses.
“You are as good as Ivy League university graduates,” said Prof Chacha, adding that the government accreditation puts higher learning institutions in a position to offer “transformative” education and conduct top-rated research.
Perennially, Kenyan dons have been complaining of limited or non-existent research funding from the government, partly leading to the painful brain drain that has seen some of Kenya’s respected professionals emigrate to the western world for greener pastures and to effectively practise.
While a number of agencies, including the UN, have asked economies to dedicate a percentage of wealth to research, it is not clear how much Kenya has dedicated to this realm that determines employability of graduates, university ranking and how graduates can solve problems.
Prof Chacha told the new graduates to be dedicated to community service instead of causing havoc just because they are degree-holders. “Let us see your deeds,” he said.
To be recognised, graduates have to be courageous and prove they are true leaders who are committed to service. He challenged medics “not to run away from accident victims; courage should be your number one virtue as you meet difficult situations”.
Prof Chacha said well-minted graduates have got to be self-disciplined, rely on inner self and “promote the brand of your university”.
