Kenya Medical Training College held its three-day inaugural scientific conference on June 28, 2010 at the College's School of Nursing Hall, Nairobi.

The theme of the Conference is "The Role of Medical Training and Research in Combating Emerging Health Challenges in Africa."

The Conference attracts stakeholders in the health sector, including health workers, researchers, lecturers, students, civil society and health administrators.

The Minister for Medical Services Prof. Anyang Nyong'o presided over the official opening of the conference on June 29, 2010. He also gave the keynote address.

Speakers at the official opening underlined the role of the conference in generating knowledge for the good of the health sector:

Said the Minister: "I hope that this conference will help the conference focus on critical issues facing the health sector and suggest practical ways in which the health workforce can better contribute to strategic policy development, planning and regulation, organization, delivery and evaluation of health services."

KMTC Director Dr. Olang'o Onudi said: "We are positive that this event will provide a global forum to share and exchange knowledge among the participants and the presenters."

The theme of the conference, said the Board Chairman Prof. Julius Meme "captures KMTC's function and mandate as a government strategic training arm for health sector workforce."
The Minister said the Conference is part of his Ministry's contribution in the "strengthening of human resources for health with a focus on the improved health workforce towards realization of Vision 2030 and the Millennium Development Goals."

The conference sub themes – Innovations/Technology and Advances in Health Training; Human Resources in Health; Trends and Interventions Towards Provision of Quality Healthcare; Public Health Challenges, Opportunities and Initiatives and Medical Education – " focus our joint efforts towards the growth of science and an improved health system for us and our children," said Dr Onudi.

Prof. Meme underscored the important role played by KMTC in providing human resource for the health sector, which, he said, is key in the achievement of Kenya's Vision 2030.
He said the Board would help the College create more opportunities of sharing knowledge, ideas and data with progressive minds.

The Director thanked the Ministry for being a partner in the organization of the conference.
It was expected that the Conference would provide a global forum where stakeholders in the health sector can share research, experiences and lessons learnt in delivery of health care and public health interventions, and to debate and discuss across geographical and professional boundaries.
The Minister urged the Conference to, among others, come up with suggestions on how best his Ministry could be involved in: Determining the sustainability and responsiveness of the health system to the needs of the poor; Training and sustaining an adequate number of health workers to deliver health services; Improving access to safe, effective, and affordable interventions; Developing a sustainable and reliable health information system and Scaling up interventions.

He said the information shared and gained in the conference would go a long way in improving health care service delivery in Kenya and the African continent.