Partnership For Innovative Medical Education In Kenya (prime-k)

Abstract

The University of Nairobi (UoN) Partnership for Innovative Medical Education in Kenya (PRIME-K) is one of the 13 projects funded by the National Institutes of health in Africa under the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI). The project is implemented in partnership with the University of Washington and the University of Maryland Baltimore. The programme has 4 aims, which include improving the quality of education, decentralizing medical training to district hospitals, retaining faculty through opportunities for research and strengthening research administration. Over the last two years, PRIME-K has successfully implemented its planned activities with encouraging results. To address the quality of education efforts have focussed on developing and improving a multidisciplinary skills lab, improving library and e-learning resources, enhancing faculty development, and establishing a medical education unit. Efforts toward decentralized training have been met with enthusiasm by medical students and adjunct faculty at the decentralized training sites. In the areas of research, PRIME-K is working to improve the availability of seed funding, as well as strengthening institution-wide research capacity. The PRIME-K team is working closely with the Ministry of Health to meet local needs and ensure sustainability of efforts in the future. To broaden National impact PRIME-K is collaborating with Kenyatta University and Maseno University. To sustain efforts that have been piloted within PRIME-K, efforts are underway to capture outcomes relevant to the medical school, funders and the MOH.