Global Health Press Tour to Kenya

June 6–14, 2015
Nairobi, Kisimu, Jericho, and Naivasha, Kenya

On June 6 to 14, 2015, JCIE organized a press tour that brought a delegation of journalists from Japan to several locations in Kenya to examine the country’s development through the lens of the country’s healthcare system. The tour was conducted as part of JCIE’s Global Health and Human Security Program and aimed to revitalize the domestic dialogue within Japan about how it can contribute to global health. Participants observed public and private urban health facilities as well as rural grassroots initiatives, while also meeting with various stakeholders promoting healthcare in Kenya from top officials in the central health ministry and county governments, as well as community health volunteers, international donors, healthcare development experts, businesspeople, NGO representatives, and journalists.

YOTARO HAMADA, Senior Staff Writer, Asahi Shimbun GLOBE

RENGE JIBU, Freelance Journalist

MAYA MICHIMARU, Staff Writer, Social News, Editorial Department, Sankei Shimbun

KOJI MIKI, Staff Writer, Foreign News Department, Mainichi Newspapers

HIROSHI UESUGI, Sub Saharan Africa Bureau Chief, Yomiuri Shimbun (Johnannesburg, South Africa)

SATORU WATANABE, Senior Policy and Technical Advisor on UHC [Advisor]

AKIO OKAWARA, President and CEO, Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) [Delegation Head]

SACHIKO AOKI, Senior Associate, JCIE [Interpreter]

Nairobi

Interviews・Briefings

Ambassador Dennis Awori, former Kenyan Ambassador to Japan

Mr. Mikio Mori, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Kenya

Japanese embassy officials

Hon. James Wainaina Macharia, Cabinet Secretary of Health

Dr. Yoshio Ichinose, Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Professor

Ms. Mitsuru Toda, Kenya Research Station, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Researcher

Representatives from various health sector funding organizations

Representatives of Japanese companies in Kenya

Dr. Osamu Kunii, Head of Strategy, Investment and Impact, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Local journalists

Dr. Amit Thakker, Kenya Healthcare Foundation, CEO

Dr. Miriam Were, 2011 Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize Laureate

Site Visits

Aga Khan Hospital

Green toilets (donated by LIXIL)

Private sector clinic in Mukuru slum

Riruta Health Center & Kenya Medical Supplies authorities (visits were arranged by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria)

Kisumu

Interviews・Briefings

Hon. Jack Ranguma, Governor of Kisumu Country and Chairman of the Health Committee, Council of Governors

Dr. Elizabeth Ogaja, Health Minister of Kisumu County

Kericho

Interviews・Briefings

Hon. Paul Chepkwony, Governor of Kericho County

Dr. Helen Ngeno, Health Minister of Kericho County

Dr. Betty Langat, Country Health Director

Site Visits

Kericho County Hospital

Various community health facilities

Activites of community health volunteers supported by HANDS

Naivasha

Site visit to Blue Spoon Kiosk run by AfricaScan