SRT Program

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...

A few weeks have passed since our departure from Kisumu, and as I reflect on our experience, I’d like to echo some key insights shared by Kelsey and Sahil in their final reflections.   Our work was characterized by its dynamic and multifaceted nature.  Kelsey emphasized the importance of laying foundational groundwork—an often-overlooked aspect that, though not always immediately visible, is crucial for a project's future success. While urgent and important tasks may appear different, they are equally vital for overall success. Sahil highlighted the necessity of workflow improvements, noting that in resource-constrained situations, adapting our tasks and optimizing workflow are not just helpful but essential. This became evident as we managed limited resources and numerous ongoing tasks. Streamlining workflow was critical to enhancing team efficiency and achieving our goals.   A key project where many of these lessons came to fruition was the U54 initiative, which aimed to screen women for HPV and vaccinate young girls across Siaya County through community health fairs....

As our summer project in Kisumu drew to a close on July 20, the SRT team reflected on a productive and enlightening experience. Initially focused on the mSaada app, we soon discovered a handful of ongoing projects that broadened the scope of our time in Kisumu. mSaada is a digital platform designed to aid community health promoters (CHPs) in cervical cancer prevention efforts. Features of the app include patient education, screening reminders, and screening result notifications just to name a few.     Beyond mSaada, we contributed to several other initiatives. The U54 project, centered on HPV vaccination and screening, saw us designing promotional materials for health fairs offering free services. We also participated in the Elimisha project, which explored community perceptions of HPV, HIV, and cervical cancer stigma. Our involvement in survey administration was limited due to language barriers, as we lacked proficiency in Swahili and Luo. A personal and team highlight was developing tools to streamline our colleagues' workflows, allowing them to focus...

We were incredibly lucky to be working with the team during some crucial moments of their work. These were moments that had been in the works for months, finally coming to fruition. During our stay, the team was constantly looking to the next visit to the field, always another big day on the horizon. This, of course, meant that their focus had to be set in the short term.   With everyone’s attention on these big moments, we found it easy to lose sight of some of the work that, while no less important, was less pressing. It quickly became clear that this was an opportunity for us fill in. Much of our time became focused on preparing for the future. We did some of the groundwork for future phases of studies, building tools that will hopefully be integral to their work, but which will not be used for quite a while. We were able to work on the app that will...

We are rapidly approaching the end of our time here in Kisumu, and I can hardly believe it. It feels like just yesterday that we were meeting the team and getting our bearings. Skylar, Kelsey, and Sahil did a great recap in their posts, and I hope I can share a few memorable moments.   We were fortunate enough to have Dr. Megan Huchko and Christina Makarushka stop here in Kisumu before attending a conference in Eldoret. While they were here, we got the opportunity to see this incredible team in action—outside of the office. As you've heard before, the local team impressively manages multiple studies and coordinates with partners across the world. However, what is most impressive to me is how well they work with each other. Last Tuesday was a team-building session led by a facilitator, featuring games such as a sponge race, egg & spoon race, and a variation of ships & sailors. During these games, the competitive and...

We have officially passed our halfway mark here in Kisumu, and time has flown by! Picking right up where Sahil and Kelsey left off in their posts, our work on the Elimisha survey visits has continued to evolve.  From our first visit to our current fifth visit at different facilities, we've observed significant changes.  Starting with the clinics furthest from town, such as Kinasia and Nyakongo, we've gradually moved closer to Kisumu proper through Bunde and Ahero, and now to the Central and West Kisumu districts.  As we've moved closer, we've noticed discernible differences in the facilities and the time it takes for women to complete the surveys.  Women at the more distant facilities faced greater challenges with literacy and digital literacy.  The conditions of the facilities themselves also differ significantly.  This underscores the importance of adapting to the wide range of conditions and contexts that each site presents.  It has been a powerful reminder of the necessity of adaptability in...

This is my first time in Kenya, and it's wonderful. We've been making the most of our time here, spending our weekends on Safari, taking a boat trip on Lake Victoria, and eating some truly incredible pineapple from Jubilee Market. Outshining all of that though, is the team. We're so fortunate to be working with so many strong and joyous people who are doing such difficult and impactful work.    In his post last week, Sahil gave a great overview of the ongoing projects and daily work the team is responsible for. I want to zoom out a bit and provide some context for this work. Cervical cancer claims hundreds of thousands of lives every year, and the vast majority of these deaths are in low- and middle-income countries. With HPV vaccinations and screenings, cervical cancer is entirely preventable. But here in Western Kenya, the health system has no capacity for these services. So not only is the team's work helping to...

Four weeks into our Duke Global Health SRT program in Kisumu, Kenya, Afraaz, Kelsey, Skylar, and I (Sahil) have been assisting in launching a pilot study for a mobile health app designed to facilitate HPV screening and cervical cancer prevention. While our initial focus was on integrating feedback from community health promoters (CHPs) who use the app, we quickly found ourselves contributing to two other critical projects: U54, focused on HPV vaccination and screening, and Elimisha, aimed at community education and stigma reduction around HPV and cervical cancer.   Our first field visit took us to three primary schools, where we met with head teachers and the local chief to discuss an upcoming free vaccination and screening clinic. This involved securing permission for girls to attend the multi-day clinic, even if it meant missing some school. Since then, our primary contribution to U54 has been creating a one-pager to advertise the clinic, set to be distributed starting July 1st.   The second field visit,...

We’re on the last week of our trip, and these eight weeks have flown by fast! Our summer trip is winding down, and we’re wrapping up our plans as we prepare to leave in one week, but it feels like we should stay a few more. The app mSaada is really coming together (go Thao!), and we’ve learned SO much on the daily challenges of global health projects. Currently we’re wrapping the Standard Operating Procedure, FAQs, and training manuals for Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), research assistants, and other members of the team. There are still many logistical challenges to work though like how to mobilize over 400 CHVs to the different communities that they serve, and how to register each CHV and their clients. We’re here only over the summer, but the team here in Kisumu does so much work for mSaada, and I’ll miss them when we leave. The best part about being in the office is being able...

Starting right where Sydney left off, I, too, just had my first experience going into the field. As Sydney mentioned, each of us will get a chance to tag along for a site visit to a sub-county, and after spending thirty days in Kenya, it was finally my turn! I accompanied Breandan, Jennifer, and Purity to the Nyando sub-county. After meeting with the MoH representative at Ahero Hospital, we conducted site visits for Ahero and four other hospitals in the county. As I quietly took notes, I couldn't help but notice the passion and dedication of every director, community volunteer, doctor, administrator, and healthcare provider. Unlike the privatized systems in the U.S., the healthcare system in Kisumu relies heavily on community involvement. As a global health research team, it is our responsibility to work closely with the community, and our meetings have created a collaborative space where all parties are enthusiastic about our proposed project.   Our collaborative efforts aren't limited to...