On 8th February 2024, President Takeshi Nagayasu and Professor Satoshi Kaneko (Executive Advisor to the President and Chief Representative of the Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine) participated in the document exchange ceremony for the grant aid “The Project for Strengthening the Research Capacity of Kenya Medical Research Institute” * held in the presence of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Ruto of Kenya at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
From left: President Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary an Foreign Affairs Mr. Mudavadi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ken Okaniwa, Prime Minister Kishida, President Nagayasu Takeshi, and Professor Satoshi Kaneko
This is due to the very close cooperation between Nagasaki University and Kenya in the field of medicine and health. In particular, Nagasaki University and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) have established a cooperative and supportive relationship since its establishment in 1979 for the development of Kenya’s medical and health activities and the promotion of the health of its people. In 2005, Nagasaki University strengthened its cooperative relationship with KEMRI by establishing an overseas education and research center (https://www.tm.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/nairobi/) within KEMRI, and in November last year, Nagasaki University received a commendation from the Embassy of Japan in Kenya in recognition of its achievements.
▶Nagasaki University received a commendation from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Kenya for its contributions, and efforts in Kenya.
Nagasaki University has been deeply involved in KEMRI’s research enhancement plan. Specifically, Nagasaki University has been cooperating in the JICA technical cooperation project that is currently being implemented in conjunction with KEMRI by dispatching experts to Japan on a long-term basis and accepting them for training in Japan.
This agreement is expected to develop the cooperative relationship between Japan and Kenya and to strengthen the collaborative response to the global challenge of infectious diseases, which has been recognized by the new coronavirus pandemic.
*The Project for Strengthening the Research Capability of the Central Institute of Medical Sciences in Kenya; The Project for Strengthening the Research Capacity of Kenya Medical Research Institute (the Project) is a JICA grant assistance project that aims to strengthen the research capacity of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) for various infectious diseases including novel coronavirus infection (hereinafter referred to as “COVID-19”) by upgrading facilities and equipment for infectious disease research, testing, and early response in diagnosis. The purpose of this project is to contribute to strengthening the capacity of Kenya and Africa (especially in the East African region) to respond to health crises and to improve access to healthcare services in Kenya.