The dream to put-up a unique Institute of Infectious Diseases at the University of Nairobi that resembles those in Europe and North America went all the way back to the mid-1990s. If done as envisaged in the dream, the Institute was going to be a home to one of the only three high level laboratory (enhanced level 3) in the whole of Africa (Johannesburg, South Africa has a level 4 laboratory and Gabon in West Africa has enhanced level 3 laboratory). Dr. Francis Plummer, a Canadian researcher from University of Manitoba who came to Kenya in early 1980s as part of the collaboration between University of Manitoba and University of Nairobi was the one who envisaged the dream. In 1980, the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi and Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba had started a collaboration to study Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Nairobi. By early 1990s the collaboration had grown to include other international Universities from Europe and America and the research work involved had become extensive and complex that it was felt that the work could no longer be handled at the Departmental level. Hence the need to create an Institute of Tropical and Infectious diseases that could handle research on diseases people in Kenya, East Africa and the region.
Vision, Mission And Core Values
- Vision
An international centre of excellence in research, training and practice in tropical and infectious diseases
- Mission
To influence public health policy, improve the standards of healthcare and be at the centre of control and eradication of tropical and infectious diseases through research, training and practice
- Core Values
Professional excellence to be hallmark of all our activities and interactions with our stakeholders
Strive to abide by the virtues of integrity and meritocracy in all our activities
Commitment to the conduct of ethical research at the highest international standards.
Believe in equity, fairness and justice for all. In so doing, we recognize the importance of gender equity, minorities, the disabled and other disadvantaged groups
