SPPH strengthens equitable global health collaboration through reciprocal visit to Kenya 

Dr. Aslam Anis and Dr. Josephat Nyagero (Dean of the School of Public Health) engaging with traditional leaders from the Maasai community during AMIU’s graduation day (photo: Dr. Khumbo Kalua)

The UBC School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) is pleased to highlight the outcomes of a successful reciprocal visit by Dr. Aslam Anis, SPPH Director, and Dr. Khumbo Kalua, Global Health Program Director, to Amref International University (AMIU) in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 7–10, 2025. This partnership, supported by UBC’s Seed Funding for Cooperation with the Global South, marks another significant step in advancing equitable, collaborative global health education and research. 

The visit builds on the landmark partnership agreement signed between UBC and AMIU in April 2025 and reflects a shared commitment to co-developing initiatives that address pressing health challenges through practical and community-engaged learning. 

Strengthening Educational Collaboration 

A key objective of the visit was to advance student practicum discussions in support of UBC’s new Master of Global Health (MGH) program. During meetings at AMIU’s Northlands Campus, Drs. Anis and Kalua met with AMIU senior leadership, including Vice Chancellor Prof. Joachim Osur, Dean of the School of Public Health Dr. Josephat Nyagero, Director of Research and Community Extension Dr. Alice Lakati, and Dr. Micah Mitangi from the Open, Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) department. The discussions reaffirmed AMIU’s commitment to host MGH students, opening new, well-structured pathways for UBC students to learn directly within Kenyan health systems and community contexts. 

Expanding Field-Based Learning Opportunities 

The delegation also visited key AMREF partner organizations to explore the full spectrum of field placements available to UBC students. Highlights included: 

• A tour of AMREF Flying Doctors, where emergency health response systems across the region were observed; 

• Meetings with the AMREF Kenya office’s Medical Officer to discuss student support and safety; 

• A visit to Waithaka Health Centre, Dagoretti South Sub-County, Nairobi, Kenya. The Centre delivers youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, showcasing AMREF’s grassroots community health work. 

These site visits offered valuable insight into the range of opportunities available for students to engage meaningfully with local health priorities, from emergency response to health equity at the community level. 

Knowledge Exchange and Public Engagement 

In alignment with UBC’s commitment to reciprocal learning, Dr. Khumbo Kalua delivered three live virtual lectures to nearly 100 AMIU students during the week of July 14^th. Key topics included moral philosophy and ethics in health, community behavior change, and gender and health. These sessions not only reinforced academic exchange but also highlighted the growing multidirectional knowledge networks being fostered through this partnership. 

On July 17, Dr. Kalua gave a public guest lecture, “From Clinics to Communities: The Role of Eye Health in Achieving Universal Health Coverage”, attended by a large audience from the AMIU community. The talk emphasized how targeted interventions in eye care can reflect broader principles of equity and access in global health. 

Celebrating Community and Shared Purpose 

Professors Anis and Kalua also participated in AMIU’s graduation ceremony held at Nairobi National Park, where over 400 students graduated. The event was attended by Indigenous community members, including representatives of the Maasai, as well as Margaret Kenyatta, former First Lady of Kenya. 

Looking Forward 

This reciprocal visit represents a deepening of institutional ties between UBC and AMIU, further operationalizing the SPPH-AMIU collaboration announced earlier this year. It reinforces SPPH’s and UBC’s broader commitment to “foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British Columbia, Canada, and the World”. 

Through this initiative, students in the MGH program will gain valuable opportunities for experiential learning in real-world contexts, while contributing to shared research and practice that respects local priorities and systems.