The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has awarded Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) a one-year consultancy that is aimed at strengthening the National Vaccines and Immunization Program (NVIP).
The two parties are set to develop, test and maintain an integrated immunization data repository and dashboard for decision making, starting July 1, 2022. The main goal of the project is to enable NVIP better manage and use data for effective and timely planning and decision making.
The one-year project that culminates in August 30, 2023, will see JKUAT host a real-time data repository and dashboard that integrates and displays immunization and vaccine data from various sources within government, UNICEF and other partners for decision making.
Living in an age where data plays an important role in decision making and policy formulation, the project team believes that the project will contribute to better data management to enable NVIP, the Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders plan efficiently and make timely decisions.
Users will access the data repository remotely through a role-based dashboard that allows the creation of customizable analytics dashboards providing role-specific information.
The data repository design will be informed by the FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) thus promoting transparency, encouraging collaboration, accelerating research, and driving better decision-making.
While assuring the project, unrelenting support, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi said, winning the bid reaffirms JKUAT and UNICEF’s joint commitment to coming up with solutions to the challenges facing the society.
“As a University, we are at the forefront in fostering a culture of research and innovation among faculty and it gives me great pride and joy to witness our researchers being involved in projects that are beneficial to the country,” said Prof. Ngumi.
JKUAT has been working with NVIP since 2017 as a member of the following NVIP groups namely: Technical Working Group (TWG); National Vaccines and Immunization Strategic Plan Development; National Immunization Inter-agency Coordinating Committee (N-ICC); and Gavi Joint Appraisal (JA). This was through a project that developed a prototype blockchain based vaccine supply chain management application that was funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The project is being spearheaded by four JKUAT dons and one industry partner namely, Prof. Wafula Muliaro, Prof. Stephen Kimani, Dr. Agnes Mindila, Dr. Philemon Namasaka and Mr. Kevin Obong’o.
Source: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology