Data sharing workshop

March 12th, 2016

Team Kenya held a six-day data-sharing workshop from 6 to 12 March 2016 in Eldoret. The aim of the workshop was to discuss data management and sharing, publications, and research uptake activities, as stated by the PI of the project, Professor Benson Estambale:

“We are reviewing our data for the past two years and when we will have appropriate results we will give recommendations to stakeholders like government and locals to use in controlling these two diseases [Malaria and RVF] in future.”

The workshop brought together the entire project team including researchers, field staff, Master’s and PhD students, as well as journalists and the following officials from the County government:

1. Mr Andrew Gavuredi: Assistant County Commissioner, Baringo County
2. Dr G. Abakalwa: Director of Medical Services, Baringo County
3. Dr Mika Langat: Veterinary Surgeon, Baringo County
4. Mr Harun Bowen: Health Records Manager, Baringo County
5. Mr Mark Rotich: In charge at Marigat Laboratory, Baringo County

Research Uptake

The project team intends to spend year three of the project primarily on research uptake activities targeting the local communities, the County stakeholders and the scientific community. The Assistant County Commissioner emphasised the importance of these activities in his speech when he stated:

“The findings [from this research] should eventually inform policy and provide impetus for interventions to curb prevalence of malaria and Rift Valley fever in Baringo County specifically and the country in general.”

The County Officials pointed out that this project was different because it consciously planned and budgeted for research uptake activities unlike many others, which cut links soon after data collection. To strengthen the research uptake efforts, the project team developed a communications strategy. Manuscripts on the various project components, which were at different stages of development, were also shared with the workshop participants for improvement before submission to relevant journals for publication.

To see the report emanating from the data sharing workshop, click here.

Participants at the data sharing workshop in Eldoret