From left to right: Prof Simon Karanja, Dr. Denver Mariga, Prof Gideon Kikuvi, Dr. Thomas Ngigi, Ms Wairimu Gichaiya, Dr. Susan Mwelu, Dr. Jane Aduda, Dr Ejersa Waqo and Dr. Reuben Thuo.

A collaborative five Day Boda Boda study Planning Workshop

Held on 5th – 10th September, 2021 at Gelian Hotel, Machakos

The JKUAT COHES Research team led by Prof Simon Karanja, held a 5 day workshop at the Gelian Hotel to develop the work plan for the study  “Utilization of digital tools to enhance COVID-19 and TB testing and linkage to care among Boda Boda riders in the Nairobi metropolis”. This is a collaborative study between JKUAT COHES Research team, Ministry of Health (MOH), Foundation of Innovative and New Diagnostics (FIND) and the County Governments that compose the Nairobi Metropolis, namely, Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu and Kajiado. This study is funded by FIND.

The objectives of the study are;

  • To create awareness and demand for COVID-19 and TB testing among Boda Boda riders using digital messaging.
  • To use digital solutions (COVID-19 Tracker, KenyaEMR, Jitenge, LIMS and TIBU) in conjunction with AgRDTs  to support decentralized COVID-19 and TB screening, testing, contact tracing and linkage to care of Boda Boda riders in the Nairobi metropolis.
  • To determine the COVID-19 and TB positivity and co-infection rates among the Boda Boda riders and lastly determine the accuracy / reliability of the AgRDT against the PCR (gold standard).

The workshop was attended by the MOH representative, Dr. Denver Mariga and Dr. Ejersa Waqo, the Director of the National TB, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program of Kenya and 10 members of the Research team.   The workshop successfully developed the draft study work plan, training materials, operational model of the study and completed the clinical trials assessment kit.

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