KEMRI Leads the Charge in Environmental Conservation.

On September 20, 2024, KEMRI took an active role in celebrating World Clean-Up Day, joining global efforts to promote environmental sustainability. The event, observed annually on the third weekend of September, was held at the Hon. John Michuki Memorial Park, with the theme “Making Room for Life.” This global initiative aims to raise awareness about environmental conservation, emphasizing the importance of fostering cleaner and healthier surroundings.

The day’s activities kicked off with a clean-up exercise at the memorial park and a garbage collection along the Nairobi River. The primary objectives of the event included raising awareness among government, industries, and communities about local environmental challenges, with a particular focus on waste minimization, recycling, and effective waste management. The campaign also aimed to unite stakeholders from across the country in simple, impactful actions to address local environmental concerns. Furthermore, it sought to provide ongoing support to groups involved in activities such as tree planting, park and beach clean-ups, water conservation, and environmental awareness campaigns, all geared towards creating a cleaner, healthier environment.

Recognizing the intrinsic link between the environment and public health, KEMRI, through its Commercial Enterprises Department, supported this vital cause by actively participating in the clean-up exercise. The KEMRI delegation was led by Deputy Director of Administration, Mr. John Msau, who was accompanied by Commercial Enterprise Officers, Mr. Brian Musila and Mr. Vincent Omanga.

While showcasing KEMRI’s innovative products, Mr. Musila highlighted their relevance not only in maintaining a clean environment but also in improving healthcare outcomes. “As an Institute, we are fully aware that health and the environment are interconnected. We are committed to developing products that are both ecofriendly and effective,” he said. Among the products displayed by KEMRI were KemriRub hand sanitizer, TBCide disinfectant, PlasmoCheck Malaria P.f/Pan Antigen Test, Ready-to-Use Culture Media, and the KEMCoV-19 COVID-19 PCR Kit. In a further demonstration of their dedication to environmental health, KEMRI donated KemriRub hand sanitizers to participants of the clean-up event.

The event, organized by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), brought together several key stakeholders, including government parastatals such as the National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KRRA), Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), National Environment Trust Fund, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), and KEMRI.

The celebrations concluded with a call to action for participants to adopt sustainable habits, such as reusing and recycling, to ensure a cleaner, greener future. KEMRI’s active participation underscored its commitment to not only advancing public health through research and innovation but also ensuring the preservation of the environment for future generations.