20th EAC Anniversary: EAC next generation health leaders and scientists to tackle the health challenges of the millennium

The East African Health Research Commission (EAHRC), an Institution of the East African Community (EAC), has established the Young East African Health Research Scientists Forum (YEARS' FORUM) which is an initiative that aims at empowering young East African researchers to be able to shape the future of research for health in the region.

YEARS’ Forum was approved by the 15th EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health (EAC/Health/15SCM/Decision 22) as one of the pre-conference meetings of the East African Health and Scientific Conference (EAHSC) and launched by the Vice President of the United Republic of Tanzania during the 7th EAHSC held in Dar es Salaam from 27th – 29th March 2019. YEARS’ Forum creates a culture of research and support for young scientists in health science by building a network of six PhD students from each of the six EAC countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) and linking them with a network of senior health research professionals across the region, and at the same time each of the six PhD students establishing a team of six members with similar interest in his/her country to work together in defined research activities.

In the framework of commemorating the 20th EAC anniversary (1999-2019), the EAHRC Secretariat, in collaboration with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), which is the EAHRC National Focal Pont in the Republic of Kenya, organized a workshop on research skills training for the YEARS’ under the theme: “Preparing EAC Next Generation Health Leaders and Scientists to Tackle the Health Challenges of the Millennium” which was conducted at KCB leadership in Karen – Nairobi from 11^th – 13^th November 2019.

The Objective of the workshop

The objective of the workshop is to strengthen the research skills of Young East African Health Research Scientists’, providing them with a broad range of essential research skills and knowledge that is usually not provided in the formal academia settings. The skills are designed to improve their effectiveness as researchers, especially taking into account the unique features of the 21st Century.

Scope of the workshop

The workshop invited conversant speakers on ICT, Research and Health systems from all countries in the region. Twenty YEARS’ from the regional network and twenty YEARS’ from national networks attended an intensive three day workshop consisting of lectures, demonstrations and hands-on training in five research skills namely; (i) Application of ICT in Research (application of ICT in research, tools and services for research); (ii) Writing skills in research; (iii) Research communication skills; (iv) Reviews in health research; and (v) Data management.