ABOUT THE EVENT

Once considered too arid to support malaria transmission, Kenya’s Turkana County recently experienced its worst malaria outbreak in history, reporting more than 400,000 cases in a single month in September 2024. Climate and land use changes are bringing more frequent catastrophic floods to the remote region, which is prone to prolonged droughts and records some of the highest surface temperatures on the planet. At the same time, food insecurity and poor nutrition are affecting marginalized populations in the county, home to many pastoralist communities and the world’s third-largest refugee population.  

This Think Global event will explore the changing malaria epidemiology in Turkana and the innovative community-centered interventions that are helping the region adapt to new health challenges. Panelists will describe a partnership among the county, Duke and Moi University that has shed light on the emerging malaria problem, including the identification of an invasive malaria vector and malaria species. They will also discuss how community-engaged approaches, such as supporting communities to collect and use data, can help track the effects of climate and land-use changes in the region. Through such efforts, collaborators hope to give local leaders and policymakers the tools they need to protect Turkana’s unique population as it faces uncharted territory.

SPEAKERS

Wendy Prudhomme O’Meara, PhD (Co-moderator) is Deputy Director of the Duke Global Health Institute, a Professor of Medicine, Research Professor of Global Health, and Professor in Population Health Sciences at Duke University. She is also a visiting lecturer at Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya, where she divides her time between the United States and Kenya in sustained partnership with local health teams. For more than two decades, Dr. O’Meara has dedicated her career to community-based approaches for malaria treatment and prevention in East Africa. Her research spans expanding access to accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, mapping silent reservoirs of malaria transmission using parasite genetic signatures, and addressing emerging threats to malaria control among vulnerable populations. Her work integrates rigorous epidemiology with implementation science to tackle persistent health challenges in real-world settings.

Joseph Kipkoech Kirui (Co-moderator) is a global health program leader with over two decades of experience in research coordination, partnership development, and capacity building across Africa. At the Duke Global Health Institute, he supports and expands DGHI’s international partnerships, working closely with faculty and leadership to strengthen global collaborations, support grant development, ensure regulatory compliance, and promote sustainable, equitable research and training exchanges. In Kenya, Joseph works closely with Prof. Wendy Prudhomme O’Meara (DGHI) and Prof. Diana Menya (Moi University) to coordinate and support high-impact malaria research, with a strong focus on Turkana County. He has played a central role in implementation of research studies examining malaria transmission, diagnostics, chemoprevention, and immunity in western and Northern Kenya, including projects on Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), Plasmodium vivax, and malaria mobility and importation.

Diana Menya, MBChB, MSc, PhD is a distinguished public health leader, clinician, and academic whose career bridges clinical medicine, epidemiology, environmental health, and global research collaboration. A founding member of the College of Health Sciences and the Department of Epidemiology at Moi University, she was instrumental in the establishment of the School of Public Health, where she served as Chair for six years and Acting Dean for two. Her leadership has significantly shaped the academic landscape of public health education and practice in Kenya. She has developed a long-standing and productive collaboration with Prof. Wendy O’Meara of the Duke Global Health Institute. Together, they have led multiple NIH-funded malaria research projects in western Kenya, including studies on malaria diagnostics, treatment-seeking behavior, and health systems strengthening.

Gilchrist Lokoel, MBChB is a senior medical doctor and public health leader with over 18 years of experience strengthening health systems and outbreak response in resource-limited settings in Kenya. He holds an MBChB from Moi University and a postgraduate degree in Epidemiology through the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme. He has served as District Medical Officer of Health, County Epidemiologist, Medical Superintendent, Director of Medical Services, and currently Chief Officer for Medical Services in Turkana County. He has led major health reforms, outbreak investigations, and research collaborations that expanded malaria research in Turkana. His leadership has contributed to reduced maternal and child mortality, expanded emergency obstetric and newborn care, decentralized blood transfusion services, and supported the construction of over 60 health facilities. He also promotes evidence-based innovation, digital health adoption, and culturally responsive maternal health programs to improve equitable healthcare access.

This is a hybrid event with both in-person and remote attendance options. Attendance in person is encouraged. Lunch will be available.