It is all systems go as Kenya prepares to host Pan African science journalists conference

By Aghan Daniel

Preparations for the 4th African Conference of Science Journalists to be held from November 16 to 19, 2020 in Kisumu, Kenya are on high gear. The event is being organised by the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA).

“We are making very good progress with a target of hosting 300 delegates from about 30 countries in Africa and from other parts of the world to the bi-annual event,” said Ms Violet Otindo, Chairperson of MESHA. 

Registration for the Conference will open on June 30, 2020 and the Conference registration fee has been put at $500 per delegate with students paying $120. Government officials will be charged $220 with university lecturers paying $200. Those sponsoring speakers to pay for them $325 for them to also participate in the Conference. More information about the Conference will be available from March 1 on MESHA website www.meshascience.org.

According the Local Organising Committee, organisations have opportunities to sponsor participants, organise workshops, make presentations, or organise field trips at the event to get in touch with the Conference Director at info@meshascience.org or meshascience@gmail.com for further details on partnerships. A few pre-conference field visits will be conducted in June.

The first two days of the Conference will be dedicated to field visits. Technical presentations will be made on day three with training for scientists and journalists being done on the last day of the event.

In a nutshell, the program will look like this; Nov 15 – Arrival; Nov 16 and 17 – Field trips; Nov 18 – Technical presentations; Nov 19 – Skill building (training scientists and journalists on how to relate with each other etc). The theme for the conference is Gender and delivery of science in Africa.

But why Kisumu? Kisumu is a beautiful lakeside city located at a hub of the western Kenya tourism circuit. The city is barley four hours drive to the source of River Nile which is cheaply accessible by bus at a cost that does not surpass $20.  An hour drive away is the beautiful Kakamega Forest. Time, they say, has stood still for the Kakamega Forest, a remnant of the rain forest that stretched all across Central Africa. This beautiful forest is home to various mammals and, bird watching, hiking and rock climbing can be enjoyed here in the serenity of the forest that time forgot.

On your way to Kakamega, are the mysterious Crying Stones of Illesi. It is an important landmark on the near the road to Kisumu barely 45 minutes away.  The rock formation resembles a solemn head falling on weary shoulders.

To the south lies the mystical Lake Simbi Nyaima. Located close to Kendu Bay town, Lake Simbi is a tiny Crater Lake measuring about one kilometres in radius. It is a mere one hour drive from Kisumu.

That all these and many more happen around Kisumu City is amazing. MESHA is already in touch with some tour agents who can undertake a day’s visit to the various touristic locations.

Those who love birds even more, should be ready to spare two hours’ drive to the Great Rift Valley on the east side of Kisumu, to witness the spectacular ornithologist’s paradise that is Lake Nakuru National Park. Stories of various research projects being done in western Kenya are amazing.

Kisumu is home to multitudes of research on HIV. The area boasts of the large Lake Victoria Basin currently home to over 50 projects on climate change and environment. Dairy farming and three large irrigation schemes make Kisumu the perfect venue for this conference. 

Farming is the most important economic sector in Kenya, although less than 8 percent of the land is used for crop and feed production, and less than 20 percent is suitable for cultivation.

Kenya is a leading producer of tea and coffee, as well as the third-leading exporter of fresh produce, such as cabbages, onions and mangoes. Small farms grow most of the corn and also produce potatoes, bananas, beans and peas. Kisumu is also known for its fisheries, a sector that is full of stories for journalists from far and wide.

Global research on coronavirus disease gets a boost

By Christine Ochogo

Scientists, physicians, funders, and policy makers globally have launched a COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition to accelerate research on the prevention and treatment of the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries.

This coalition formed by 70 institutions from over 30 countries aims to accelerate desperately needed COVID-19 research in those areas where the virus could wreak havoc on already-fragile health systems and cause the greatest health impact on vulnerable populations.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus.

The disease believed to have originated from Wuhan, a small market in China, has continuously been spreading globally from when it first broke out in November 2019.

The members of the coalition argue that international research collaboration and coordination is needed urgently to support African, Latin American, Eastern European, and certain Asian countries to respond effectively to the worsening pandemic and speed up research adapted to resource-limited settings.

“The coalition brings together an unprecedented array of health experts, including public-sector research institutes, ministries of health, academia, not-for-profit research and development organizations, NGOs, international organizations, and funders all committed to finding COVID19 solutions for resource-poor settings,” read in part a comment recently published in The Lancet.

One important research response to COVID-19 has been launched already, the World Health Organization (WHO)-led SOLIDARITY trial, an unprecedented global effort. However the authors found that out of almost 600 COVID-19 clinical trials registered, very few trials are planned in resource-poor settings. The authors commit to sharing their technical expertise and clinical trial capability to accelerate COVID-19 research in these settings.

The scale of the challenge is clearly beyond the scope of any single organization and therefore the coalition will facilitate a coordinated approach, so that all data from all regions can be collected in a similar fashion, pooled and shared in real-time. This will help countries and the WHO to make rapid evidence-based decisions on policies and practice.  

“We welcome the launch of this coalition, which takes advantage of existing multinational and multidisciplinary expertise in running clinical trials in resource poor settings, and will help the World Health Organization (WHO) in its coordinating role in the global response to COVID-19,” said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, World Health Organization.

“Although the epicenter is today elsewhere, we must prepare now for the consequences of this pandemic in more resource-constrained settings or we stand to lose many more lives,” added the doctor.

Members of the Coalition call for specific commitments to ensure access, so that effective new treatments are made available as soon as possible in resource-poor settings and are affordable and readily accessible.

Even though more than 70 organizations have joined this coalition, a call has been made to other organizations ready to contribute existing capacity to also join.

COVID-19 disease causes respiratory illness with symptoms such as cough, fever and in more severe cases victims who have been infected may have difficulties in breathing and even cause death.

The disease spread primarily through contact with infected person when they cough or sneeze. It is also spread when a person touches a surface or objects that have the virus.

In trying to control the spread of the disease, one is advised to wash their hands frequently using soap and running water, use sterilizers, avoid touching one’s face and keep social distance with people (1 meter or 3 feet).

The pandemic has so far affected over a million individuals globally, causing over 600,000 deaths. Different countries are trying to take various preventive measures in the help to curb its spread.

 In Kenya, the government has come up with measures among them asking people to stay at home and avoid social places, a daily 7.00 pm to 5.00am curfew and making use of masks.

Expert: Journalists must stay out of harm’s way while covering COVID-19

By Christine Ochogo

NAIROBI – SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 – Journalists have been cautioned against using traditional ways of news gathering when covering the coronavirus pandemic.

Just like all other humans, journalists are not an exemption and are equally at risk of contracting and spreading coronavirus disease given the nature of their day to day work.

Internews Global Health Media Adviser, Ms Ida Jooste is advising journalists globally to protect themselves fully if they have to leave home which she discouraged. For now she said everyone should stay at home and adhere to social distancing. “No story is worth your life hence staying safe during this unprecedented time is paramount,” she warned.

Ida was speaking during a cross border science café conducted online where over 70 science journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Madagascar, Ghana and Nigeria participated.

The science media café was organised by the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) from Kenya, Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre (HIFC) from Zimbabwe and Health Journalists Network in Uganda (HEJNU) whose team leader, Ms Esther Nakkazi, moderated the session. On board was also Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM).

She mentioned that it was high time journalists embraced use of information technology such as, zoom, skype, WhatsApp among other social media tools.

The media advisor highlighted the importance for journalists to also adopt more revolutionary ways to gather news and information such as maximizing phone-in formats and voice recording for interviewees to avoid physical contacts with them, maintaining online production of unfolding story in credible and impactful way so as to keep audience.

She also advocated for use of protective equipment and adhering to the evolving guidance about best practice for safety such as wearing of face masks, keeping social distance, these among others.

During the café the Executive Director, International Community of Women Living with HIV, Kenya Chapter, Ms Inviolata M’mbavi, said lack of information flow from government has stifled access to medication and health services for persons living with HIV. 

She added that all the attention is now focussed on COVID-19 at the expense of other ailments. However she noted that some facilities had devised ways of serving them such as providing ARVs for three weeks per visit.

 “The COVID-19 situation is complicating lives of majority of HIV patients and this has increased their stress levels since they are unable to access antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other medication,” she added.

Search for an AIDS vaccine lands me my first ever media science café

A message on my phone from Aghan Daniel, the secretary of MESHA (www.meshascience.org) on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 awakened my thoughts about the future of the world without a HIV vaccine.
Aghan was inviting to me to attend a two hour media science café at a Nairobi Hotel. In the invite, he simply stated that the meeting had been called to discuss vaccine research in the context of the halt of HVTN702 clinical trials.
As I sat in my university room, two things came to my mind. One, what is a media science café? Two, will I understand what the scientists will talk about given that they used complex terms?
Anyway, I conjured up courage and arrived at the venue 30 minutes before time. Then the introductions were done – and I was happy because I was seeing big names that I had only got to meet through bylines in the newspapers or heard their voices on radio! There was Angela Oketch of the Nation, Ann Mikia,a renowned radio personality in Kenya, Mike Mwaniki, a veteran journalist and Violet Otindo, whom I had only seen on TV, among others.
When the presentations started, Dr Kundai Chinyenze, Executive Medical Director, IAVI stepped forward and showed very simple slides using ordinary language in most of her talking points –she was very conscious of what could be technical and she explained them using a language that me, a non-science student easily understood.
Her topic was simple, HIV vaccine research efforts and IAVI’s role in the search for a safe, effective, affordable and globally accessible vaccine.
Then came Professor Omu Anzala from Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative (KAVI-ICR), University of Nairobi spoke on their roles in HIV vaccine research and prevention in Kenya.
These included clinical trials, research in communicable diseases, non- communicable diseases and the knowledge translation through public forums and targeted events like the science café, that I was privileged to attend for the first time. Prof Anzala spoke simple things off head without any presentation. He was in his element in his simplicity.
Mrs Rosemary Mburu, Executive Director, WACI Health talked on the need for the HIV vaccine. “We can end HIV without a vaccine but we cannot sustain the virus without a vaccine,” she said. She also urged for meaningful engagement of local communities for successful research and clinical trials.
To wind it up, a HIV champion, Ms Inviolata Mmbavi, Executive Director, International Community of Women Living with HIV – Kenya Chapter narrated her story of living with the virus for the last 30 years. “When you test HIV positive life will never be the same again,” she told us. She noted that the first drugs that were administered to her, almost killed her.
“That drug was a monster,” she said looking at Prof Omu Anzala whom she noted had started her on ARVs nearly three decades back and yet the two had never met again till today’s science café brought them together.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I have hope that a vaccine, to be only administered once in a human being’s life, will be found,” she said, almost tearfully.
She said that taking drugs daily is not a walk in the park and urged the researchers not to tire in their search for an AIDS vaccine. I gained a lot from this café and learnt that a lot of research is still being done in the quest to find an AIDS vaccine. This will definitely bring smiles back on the faces of those who are distraught because HVTN stalled.
The trials that are on-going include Imbokodo (Phase 2B/3) trial HVTN 705 which is a Mosaic Vaccine Aiming at Protection Against wide variety of global HIV strains. Dr Kundai said that HVTN 705 is a trial in women in five African countries of South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The trial results are expected in 2022. Besides, up next is the PrEPVacc Trial Phase 2b trial which is testing 2 vaccines regimens to prevent HIV infection and compare a new kind of daily pill for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Descovy vs the currently used Truvada. Importantly, this trial tests 2 vaccines regimens to prevent HIV infection and compare a new kind of daily pill for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Descovy vs the currently used Truvada. Dr Kundai told us that this is the first efficacy vaccine trial that includes daily oral PrEP in its design in both men and women.

She added that it is planned to start later this year in Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Kenya.
As I walked back to the university that day, not only was my fear of scientists slayed but I also felt tantalized by a few statements made at the café. 1. “Without HIV vaccine, we will not end AIDS.” – Dr Kundai Chinyenze. 2. “Can we end AIDS without a vaccine? Yes! But we cannot sustain HIV without a vaccine.” – Mrs Rosemary Mburu and 3. “When you test HIV positive life will never be the same again.” – Ms Inviolata Mmbavi, HIV champion.
The writer is a first year journalism student at the University of Nairobi.

HIV vaccine: Scientists call for patience as research continues

Days after the most awaited HIV vaccine clinical trials was stopped, researchers say that there is still hope to get another a vaccine which will prevent HIV infection.
“The recent withdrawal a HIV vaccine, HVTN 702, clinical trial is not the end of finding an effective preventive HIV,” two scientists recently told us at a science media café called by the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA).

Dr. Kundai Chinyenze, Executive Medical Director, International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), clarified that the HVTN 702 vaccine, also known as Uhambo, was stopped due to its inefficiency in preventing HIV infection.
As journalists, we had somehow become enchanted by this news which we had received a few days earlier. We did actually think that scientists were still on it but were not very sure what researches were going on around us.
In her address to us, together with her colleague, Prof Omu Anzala of KAVI and University of Nairobi,
Dr. Chinyenze dispelled any fears in us in regards to the stopped vaccine clarifying that the study posed no safety concerns to the volunteers who were under trial.
She said that even though HTVN 702 study had failed and disappointed not only researchers but also donors and the community who had hopes in its success, there are a number of other HIV vaccines under trial and scientists are still working tirelessly towards developing vaccines in a bid to find a solution in curbing the infectious disease.
“As much as it is disappointing to have lost money and time, the HVTN 702 was just one among many other HIV vaccine trials that scientists have been working on and so this does not mean that it is the end of vaccine trials,” added Dr. Chinyenze. She observed that there are novel vaccines that have different mechanisms of action that are in earlier phases of testing.
Prof. Omu Anzala of KAVI and the Institute of Clinical Research (ICR) based at the University of Nairobi mentioned that they have learnt a lot following the failed vaccine in South Africa and that here in Kenya, they at KAVI in collaboration with partners in USA and Canada are working on Antibody Mediated Prevention (AMP) study and HVTN 706, also known as Mosaic.
“We scientists are still in pursuit of a safe and globally effective preventive HIV vaccine and other global efforts underway include HVTN 703 and HVTN 704 and HVTN 705 also known as Imbokodo, whose results are expected later this year 2020,” Prof. Anzala said, adding that there is no need to give up on ever finding an AIDS vaccine.
He however lamented over decline in funding towards research on HIV but was quick to state that this will not stop any efforts they are putting forward in finding a safe and effective safe vaccine.
“As we await an effective vaccine, we must understand the epidemic and establish a tool which will help in finding out who are getting infected and reach out to them,” he observed.

“People who are at risk of HIV infection should make use of PrEP and everyone should embrace test and treat as prevention measures to avoid new infections and spread of the virus – patients who are already positive must adhere to treatment,” said Prof Anzala.
That national Institute of off Allergy and Infectious diseases (NIAID) on February 3, 2020 stopped administration of HVTN 702 vaccine after Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) found that it was not effective.
The HVTN 702 study funded at USD 130 million was launched in 2016 and it enrolled 5,407 HIV negative volunteers at 14 sites across South Africa. The volunteers randomly received six injections of the investigational vaccine or placebo for over 18 months.