It may have only been a few weeks since we departed Kisumu, but I already miss the peaceful walks to the office, cooking dinner with friends, and working with the best people I know.
The summer started with us a bit confused and working on tasks that seemed a mile away, especially since the office was actively conducting surveys in the field and meeting with community leaders. Additionally, we came to Kenya with our focus solely on mSaada, the digital platform designed to boost cervical cancer screening rates.
We were fortunate enough to learn about and contribute to several other initiatives concerning vaccination, HPV stigma, and biopsies. As we quickly learned, cervical cancer is just one piece of the puzzle, surrounded by numerous equally important initiatives that collectively drive forward the mission of improving public health.
“As we quickly learned, cervical cancer is just one piece of the puzzle, surrounded by numerous equally important initiatives that collectively drive forward the mission of improving public health.”
I think our team dynamic was truly one of our best qualities. Whether Sahil was working on an Excel macro, Kelsey editing mSaada on Commcare, Skylar improving educational materials, or I was brainstorming new ideas for CHP training, we were always bouncing ideas off each other. We learned so much from one another, gaining insights and perspectives that made our individual work better and our team stronger.
Our final week in Kisumu featured a health fair that the team had been working towards all summer, picking locations, training CHPs, and programming technology. It is hard to put into words how amazing it was to see. I was fortunate to visit various schools to witness the care and compassion provided by health professionals and the local team.
Saying goodbye to the office at our final dinner was a bittersweet moment. It was hard to leave, yet we were filled with pride for the meaningful contributions we made and excitement for the research to continue evolving. The breadth and depth of our work in Kisumu transformed SRT into the most enriching and unforgettable experience of my Duke journey so far. Thank you to everyone who supported us during our 8-week program. We will always be grateful for this experience.
“The breadth and depth of our work in Kisumu transformed SRT into the most enriching and unforgettable experience of my Duke journey so far.”
