Howard University News May 15, 2015 Howard University Hosts Kenyan First Ladies Delegation for its Inaugural Meeting Howard University hosted a delegation of Kenyan First Ladies, on Thursday, May 14, to exchange ideas about best practices that could lead to improvements in the quality of life for citizens in Kenya. The event, held in the Louis Stokes Library, was organized by Dr. Goulda Downer, the principal investigator for the AIDS Education and Training Centers, and Dr. Charles Howell, chair for the Division of Internal Medicine. The delegation was comprised of wives of the heads of 14 counties in the Republic of Kenya, all accomplished women with varied professional degrees in areas such as health care, law, nursing and engineering. The Kenyan delegation includes Margaret Karungaru, Elizabeth Ruto, Philomena Kabogo, Olivia Ranguma, Rukia Mohamed, Rocilla Awiti, Phoebe Munya, Sarah Tunai, Edith Malombo, Pricilla Oparanya, Christine Mvurya and Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, with staff members Jessie Mithamo and Elizabeth Ambasa. Accompanying the delegation were special guests BMG3 Enterprises President Gena Bradford and Krisshaun Fields. Other Howard representatives at the event included Dr. Margaurite Neita, interim dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences; Melissa Weir, a member of the undergraduate nursing faculty; Dr. Avis Graham, faculty nutritional sciences; Dr Georgia Dunston, director, National Human Genome Center (NHGC), and Tamara Owens, director, Clinical Skills and Simulation Centers, Health Sciences. "For nearly two decades, Howard University's AIDS Education and Training Center programs have delivered rigorous training and educational programs, thorough research findings, bold and effective approaches and interventions and efficient program evaluations, all aimed at strengthening the HIV clinical workforce and ultimately improving the quality of life those at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS within our communities of color," said Downer. The aim of the Kenyan First Ladies delegation's visit was to strengthen the care delivery system and help ensure a better quality of life for Kenyan citizens. The goals are integrating maternal and child health care, better treatment of chronic diseases and HIV, while simultaneously improving service delivery. "It was an eye-opener. We are going to have more interactions with Howard University; it has a lot to offer to our country and students," said Her Excellency Margaret Karungaru, head of the Kenyan delegation. "We will participate in student exchange programs, ideas, e-medicine, and we are going to benefit a lot from the knowledge on cancer and other diseases that are current in our country." The partnership's main objective is to identity best culturally relevant models of care for women and girls in Kenya. Howard has a history of educating African leaders and remains in a pivotal position to support this endeavor for Kenya and the African continent. The delegation visited Howard's campus strengthen the relationship. "Through service learning projects, Howard's faculty and students help to extend the University's global footprint and instill our students with a sense of responsibility and commitment to the international community," said Howell. "For example, the Howard University chapter of Engineers without Borders embarked on a project with the Choimim region in Kenya known as "Water is Life," to improve water quality for poor rural families in the region." To learn more, please visit http://capitolregiontelehealth.org/. ABOUT AETC - CAPITAL REGION TELEHEATH PROJECT The HU-CRTP is funded to use distance-based technologies to provide clinical consultation, education and mentoring for healthcare professionals, healthcare organizations and healthcare networks who provide treatment, care and support to individuals diagnosed with HIV in Washington, D.C. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.