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{
    "id": 1378503,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1378503/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 159,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Saku, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ali Raso",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "An international vaccine institute is important for both research and development. Today, scientific institutes are intended to extend frontiers of science and medicine. After the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and slightly later the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw the importance of having vaccine institutes. Countries that are advanced in medicine and research were able to consolidate and mobilise scientists across the world to save humanity. For that reason, we have seen how much Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is doing in this country. This is in terms of research on new diseases, discovery of scientific methods and approach to medicine as curative and preventive. KEMRI is also helping the Ministry of Health under the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance on surveillance of tropical diseases in less developed countries. Interestingly, in Marsabit, there were cases of Kala-azar, which is not a common disease in that region. As soon as those cases were discovered, the first patients succumbed. Later on, samples were taken to KEMRI and some West Africa countries and it was discovered that the people of Marsabit who live in very rural areas were suffering from Kala-azar and they were able to get treatment. The world has made quantum leap in terms of scientific research in medicine. For Kenya, it is allowing the growth of such an institute which will build a body of human capital and growth of other institutions. From where I sit, as we talk about institutes like IVI, KEMRI and others not necessarily in the health sector but in agriculture, I see the need to have satellite institutions based in Nairobi expand the frontier of knowledge and surveillance so as to discover new diseases. Hon. Temporary Speaker, with those many remarks, I beg to support and thank the Chairperson of the Committee."
}