Fellowship Site: Eldoret, Kenya

The Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University is partnered with the Moi University School of Medicine (MUSOM) in Eldoret, Kenya, and has a decade long history of collaboration, emphasizing the tripartite mission of any medical school—care, teaching and research.

The Moi University School of Medicine and its associated Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) was the second medical school founded in Kenya, in 1990. It serves the western half of the country, acting to provide care locally for the area of Eldoret and Uasin Gishu District as well as to provide referral care for its 13 associated rural health centers, scattered across western Kenya.

In 2000 the collaborating institutions—MUSOM, IU and Brown—initiated a response to the largest health crisis facing Kenya - the HIV epidemic. AMPATH- the Academic Model for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS in western Kenya- was the resulting plan/blueprint. In December 2001 AMPATH opened its first HIV care clinic with an intention to treat 50 HIV patients, with supplies and medications funded through philanthropy. Over the last five years AMPATH has grown to open 18 HIV care clinics across western Kenya, enrollment averages 2000 new patients per month (total enrollment is presently over 70,000). AMPATH is a comprehensive care program supplying not only clinical HIV care but also food equity programs, poverty reduction programs (microloan financing programs as well as job training designed for both urban and rural sites), PMTC full implementation program, orphans and vulnerable children program, and TB intensified case finding projects.

Housing Availability:
Our project house presently consists of 6 houses in a gated community that is a 10 minute walk to the medical center. The center of town is an additional 10-minute walk beyond the medical school. Living is communal. The second floors of all the houses are sleeping quarters. The first floors are common rooms—dining area, living rooms with a general library as well as a medical library, and the administrative offices of the program. Wireless Internet is available on compound if an individual has a personal laptop; otherwise, there are two desktop computers with Internet access for general use. Laundry facilities are available on site (washing machines, clothes lines, or the option of laundry services). Meals are provided: breakfast is self-service, as is weekend dining. Lunch and dinner during the week are provided in a cafeteria style, cooked by our catering staff. The local water supply is not safe; all water on site is boiled and filtered for consumption. When Scholars need to travel off site for work, transportation is provided through the AMPATH transport pool. A list of reliable drivers and car access is provided if a Scholar wishes to travel on weekends.

Health Issues and Immunizations Needed for this Site:
Motor vehicle accidents are the major risk to health in Kenya. We have strict guidelines for all program participants regarding travel.

Eldoret is a malaria endemic area. Malaria prophylaxis, as well as bed netting, are essential needs.

Kenya is one of the 22 high burden countries for TB; the community is an endemic area and is an area of risk—not merely the hospital/ward settings. All participants should be tuberculin skin tested prior to departing for Kenya on three months post return.

The water supply is unsafe; drinking water should be boiled and filtered. Many persons do develop diarrheal illnesses during a stay in our area if careful attention is not given to safe water practices.

See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site and The Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel.

The FICRS program mandates that all Scholars see a physician prior to their assignment abroad. The site will require a formal letter from your physician stating that you have received the necessary immunizations prior to the start of your fellowship.

Safety and Danger Issues:
See the U.S. State Department Web site for information.

Language requirements other than English:
Kenya has two official languages, Kiswahili and English. English is the language of health care, policy, business, and research in Kenya. There is thus no anticipated barrier incident to language. If the Scholar wishes to learn Kiswahili, a Kiswahili tutor is available on site for lessons.