Background

Kenya has an approximate population of 50 million and, like most sub-Saharan countries, a high disease burden. Infectious diseases make up the top three causes of death. On top of the known infectious diseases, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) present major threats to public health, with COVID-19 being just the latest example. The implications for individuals and health systems are substantial. Close to three-quarters of today’s EIDs are of zoonotic origin (where infectious agents spread to humans from animals, often interwoven with changes in the environment and agricultural practices), with East and Central Africa being one of the world’s hotspots for EIDs of zoonotic origins. The Global One Health paradigm recognizes the complex interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, microbial and environmental health and responds with an interdisciplinary approach that aims to build capacity and resilience that prepares for, prevents, and responds to outbreaks. The Master’s programmes which focuses on One Health and emergency research ethics will not only train and support the next generation of scholars and ethicists in East Africa, but it will also position the University of Nairobi as a global research hub in these emerging research fields.

Philosophy of the programme

The programme philosophy is guided by the global, regional, and national recognition of One Health and emergency research as ethical and normative projects, and the philosophy of the University of Nairobi, which is to inspire and connect with the Kenyan community, provide leadership and stewardship and give hope and faith to the Kenyan society that it can excel in whatever it chooses to do with passion, moral responsibility and a strong sense of patriotism.

Rationale of the programme

Globally and regionally, outbreaks continue to have devastating effects medically, economically and socially. The West Africa Ebola outbreak of 2014-16 cost an estimated US$2.8 billion and resulted in 11,000 deaths, 80% of which could have been averted if appropriate funding and response had been available two months earlier. Climate change, increased ease and speed of cross-border movements, the emergence of new pathogens, and the re-emergence of pathogens pose increased risks to global health security. Epidemics and pandemics, climate change and natural disasters, such as the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, create emergencies, impacting the health of ecosystems and humans.

One Health research has a key role in addressing outbreaks, pandemics and the health implications of disasters, humanitarian crises and other emergencies, at the human, animal and environmental interface. This demonstrates how human health is intricately linked to animal health, environmental health, and emergencies, and research into any of these areas raises interconnected ethical issues.

Goal of the programme

The goal of these programme is to provide learners or participants with the opportunity to appreciate the relevance of ethics throughout all phases of research involving humans, animals or the environment, to develop skills in formulation of ethical guidelines to inform policy and practice of One Health and emergency research, to appreciate the ethical challenges in One Health and emergency research, and to develop confidence and skills in ethical decision-making in One Health and emergency research, during its ethical review and in regulatory contexts.

Expected learning outcomes

At the end of the programmes, the learner should be able to:

1. Describe the importance of advancing One Health and emergency research ethics scholarship and research in Kenya.
2. Apply the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to research ethics to One Health and emergency research.
3. Analyse the principles and practices of research ethics and integrity, including approval and regulatory mechanisms, to One Health and emergency research.
4. Appraise the standards of international One Health and emergency research ethics in culturally sensitive ways for participant communities in Kenya.
5. Evaluate ethical issues in One Health and emergency research at the interfaces between or among humans, animals, plants, or the environment.

MODE OF DELIVERY

Face-to-face mode

The programme will be offered through didactic lectures, case studies, seminar and class presentations and field trips.

Open, Distance, e-Learning Mode

This will be offered using a multi-media approach that includes self-instructional print, pre-recorded or structured modules and electronic study materials. Online teaching will be facilitated through the use of available online platforms such as Google Meet, Zoom, Teams, and Cisco Webex.

Blended Learning Mode

The blended learning mode of delivery shall combine face-to-face and online learning approaches. The online component shall provide for synchronous and asynchronous modes of instruction.

 

Contacts for support: 

Department of Public Health Pharmacology & Toxicology

Tel:      +254-020-4916015

Email: dept-publichealth@uonbi.ac.ke