CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch, during the meeting
The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, held a roundtable meeting with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the Ministry of Health to explore opportunities for collaboration in strengthening training for specialized health cadres in the country.
The College is currently implementing a CHAI-funded scholarship programme supporting over 100 specialties, including Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery, Advanced Cataract and Low Vision, Low Vision and Assistive Technology, Audiology and Hearing Technology, and Orthopaedic Technology.
The initiative, targeting healthcare professionals working in public health facilities, seeks to build capacity for the delivery of quality healthcare services across the country.
Speaking during the forum, KMTC CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch expressed gratitude to CHAI and the Ministry of Health for selecting the College to implement the scholarships.
“Thank you for believing in us. We are committed to equipping our health workers with the knowledge and skills they need to serve our communities better,” he said.
Dr. Oluoch also urged the Ministry to develop a policy framework that ensures a clear career progression path for trained specialists.
Additionally, he announced ongoing discussions with partners to establish a mini-manufacturing hub at the College for the production of assistive devices such as prostheses. He urged CHAI and other partners to support the initiative.
“We plan to leverage our workshops, training staff, and students to produce these assistive devices. This will not only enhance practical training but also promote the sustainability of the project,” he added.
The meeting provided a platform to review project successes, share lessons learned, and discuss challenges and opportunities. A key concern raised was the delay by some County Governments in releasing their healthcare staff to attend training.
Addressing the issue, Deputy Chief Occupational Therapist at the Ministry of Health and Manager of the ATscale Global Partnership, Mr. Nicholas Nyamweya, pledged to engage the Council of Governors to encourage the counties to support the programme.
CHAI Deputy Country Director Ms. Rosemary Kihoto appreciated the partnership with KMTC, noting that it is instrumental in improving health outcomes in the country.
She further revealed that CHAI has invested immensely in building the capacity of KMTC lecturers to deliver the specialized training effectively.
Also present during the meeting were the Deputy Director, Academics, Dr. Nyawira Mwangi; Deputy Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Hezron Ochiel; Deputy Registrar, Quality Assurance, Ms. Lucy Kuria; and staff from the Department of Clinical Medicine.
