The JOOUST VLIR-IUC Sub-project III on Building Capacity for Research, Management and Control of Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases in the Lake Victoria Basin embarked on a two-day workshop on Data collection tools validation between 13th-14th July, 2023 held at in Kisumu at the Kisumu Hotel.

The workshop was officially opened by the Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Student Affairs and Research, Prof. Denis Ochuodho who is also the Local coordinator of the Project. While giving his remarks, Prof. Ochuodho thanked members for their immense commitment towards steering the project indicating the need to identify the key areas of the University interest at this initial stage such as academic programmes enriching the University's research base. He also commended the team for indulging key departments, urging on the importance of visibility as a requisite for maximum impact through progress and success stories. In closing, Prof. Ochuodho challenged the team to consider community practices such as mining and its health implications, adding that sub-projects I and III can work together to find a solution for this.

The team comprised of the Project lead Dr. Jane Owenga, Dean, School of Health Sciences Prof. George Ayodo, Dean, School of Informatics and Innovative Systems, Prof. Solomon Ogara and key project members including three PhD students that have been sponsored by the Project to conduct research. The purpose of the baseline survey is to establish the starting point for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the Project. The students who later made a consolidated presentation of their tools, were taken through the baseline survey and validation tools that built a base for the discussions. The tools to be used include Informed consent forms, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) -Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) Form, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) Guide, KAP Primary Health Care Provider, Caseload Data Abstraction Tools, Client exit Interview, and Health Facility (HF) background survey.

The sampling will be undertaken in the entire project transects including Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay and Uasin Gishu Counties starting from the County Referral Facilities (level 5), to the community facilities. Some of the Sub-Counties to be surveyed include Alego, Ugunja and Kisumu Central where sampling will be in thirty facilities within the respective levels. So far, consent from the relevant county and health authorities has been granted for the prevalent areas namely Kisumu and Siaya Counties. Various cadre of respondents shall be interviewed including nurses, doctors, clinicians, support staff and Focus Group Discussions (FDG) totaling to 315 health workers with an additional selection of 379 clients. The piloting is to be done in Homabay Town and Karachuonyo Sub-counties of Homa bay County

JOOUST VLIR-IUC Project has its objectives spread across ten to twelve years with the mid-term objectives spanning fives years. Part og the long term objectives include coming up with policies for capacity building.

Sub-project III aims to build capacity for early stage researchers and mid-career professionals for Cervical Cancer, liver cancer, Type 2 Diabetes and HPT through short courses, post-graduate training and post- doctoral programmes; To estimate prevalence of Cervical Cancer, liver cancer, Diabetes II and Hypertension in Lake Victoria Basin; To establish state of the art research laboratory for Cervical Cancer, liver cancer, Diabetes II and Hypertension; To establish a registry for monitoring targeted Non-Communicable diseases (Cervical Cancer, Liver Cancer, Diabetes II and Hypertension) and To establish a Nursing and midwifery programme.

So far, the Sub project has recieved a donation of research laboratory equipment from Belgium giving the project a headstart on its long term goal of acquiring research equipment and infrastucture.