The Principal, College of Health Sciences, at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT), Dr. Reuben Thuo has been awarded in the United States for his relentless promotion of impactful academic and research collaboration and community service. Dr. Thuo received the medal of excellence from the Indiana University Fairbanks, School of Public Health on March 27, 2025.
The Dean of the Fairbanks School, Prof. Nir Menachemi who presented the award to Dr. Thuo noted that the partnership with JKUAT has delivered huge strides despite the short time the two institutions have worked together. He added that the award symbolized not just the leadership of Dr. Thuo but also the enduring efforts of other staff from CoHES who have worked hard to deliver the successes of the collaboration.
In May 2024, Indiana University’s Fairbanks School of Public Health and JKUAT formalized partnership through Memorandum of Intent – unleashing latent synergy to advance healthcare and public health outcomes in Kenya. The partnership has seen the two entities roll out joint programmes and initiatives including the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Project. The Project aims to disseminate knowledge and enhance the capability to deliver optimal care by connecting primary healthcare providers with interdisciplinary specialists.
The collaboration has also supported neonatal resuscitation training for healthcare providers at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital; fostering their capacity to respond to new-born emergencies. The efforts have resulted in dramatic reduction in neonatal mortality rates at the facility, further contributing to the national goals of reducing infant deaths.
Additionally, the partnership has facilitated technology transfer on kangaroo mother care at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital and human donor breastmilk safety and accessibility assessment at Pumwani Maternity Hospital.
Building on these gains, JKUAT and the Fairbanks School now intend to roll out additional cooperative projects including development of new academic programmes on areas such as health data science and translational informatics. Other mooted ideas include establishment of biobank and support for the national cancer registry.
Commenting on the award, Dr. Thuo noted that it was vote of confidence in JKUAT’s strategic international collaborations that delivers for the people of Kenya, in line with the University’s mandate and vision.
He lauded the support of the management, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi as being instrumental in anchoring CoHES as a centre of excellence in training, research and community service for Kenya and the region.
Dr. Thuo was accompanied to the US by Dr. Eddy Odari, senior lecturer in the Medical Microbiology Department at JKUAT.
