The County Government of Kisumu has partnered strategically with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) and Maseno University to strengthen the county’s health systems.
Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at a ceremony in Kisumu today, the three institutions seek to establish a Healthcare and Research Consortium to enhance maternal health, specialist training, and research.
The initiative will bring together key institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), Maseno University, and the Kisumu County Department of Health, to focus on vital areas such as maternal health, cancer treatment, and infectious diseases.
Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, said the partnership targets scaling up research and skills transfer to ensure health facilities in the county offer world-class services.
In a speech delivered by Deputy Governor Dr Mathews Owili on his behalf, the Governor said the consortium would facilitate advanced skills transfer in specialised surgeries, which are being introduced at JOOTRH.
He said the partnership will foster joint research projects, doctor-student exchange programmes, and infrastructure development, ensuring long-term sustainability in healthcare delivery.
Prof. Anyang Nyong’o said the partnership aims to scale up research and skills transfer to ensure that “By investing in specialist training, research, and infrastructure, we are ensuring that the people of Kisumu and beyond will receive the highest quality of care. ”
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Governor Nyong’o pointed out the role of postgraduate doctors in the project, highlighting the potential for local specialists to gain expertise in previously inaccessible areas.
Formation of the Healthcare and Research Consortium, he said, was a bold step towards positioning Kisumu as a centre of excellence in medical training, research, and innovation. “The inclusion of postgraduate doctors in this program will be particularly transformative, enabling our local specialists to gain expertise in areas that have historically required patients to seek treatment elsewhere,” he said.
Deputy Governor Dr Mathews Owili lauded the strategic partnership, saying it will impact not only the health sector but also the economy of the Lake Region. He noted that upgrading JOOTRH will greatly boost medical tourism, with specialists and students from other parts of the world coming to do research and benchmark.
Dr. Michelle Batin and Dr. Jennifer Makin from UPMC graced the event and expressed excitement over the collaboration. UPMC is a leading American integrated global nonprofit health enterprise renowned for its excellence in patient care, research, and education.
With over 100,000 employees, it operates 40 hospitals and 800 clinical locations, including outpatient sites and doctors’ offices. UPMC also manages a health insurance division that serves 3.8 million members alongside a range of commercials.
By Fredrick Oloo
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