Kabarak varsity launches school of medicine

Kabarak University Vice Chancellor Jones Kaleli (left) presents documents on the new academic programmes to the university Chancellor, former President Daniel Moi. [Photo: Kipsang Joseph/Standard]

There was song and dance as two new schools were launched at Kabarak University Thursday.

The chancellor of the university, former President Daniel Moi, said that he was confident that the School of Medicine and Health Sciences and School of Music and Performing Arts would equip students with essential skills and competencies.

The medical school, he said, will open doors to local and regional students so as to help meet the ever increasing demand for professionals in the field.

Further, the former president said, the School of Music and Performing Arts has one of the most robust array of music programmes to be found anywhere in the region.

He said all the programmes offered at Kabarak strongly put emphasis on quality education founded on biblical values.

The university has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health for students pursuing medical courses to use the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital.

The agreement, signed in 2012 with the then Medical Services Minister Anyang' Nyong'o, allows students to use the hospital for research, clinical and public health practice.

"In seeking to actualise this dream, the university is in joint collaboration with the Government to offer attachments/placements for our students pursuing various academic medical programmes in order to get a diverse exposure at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital," said Jones Kaleli, the Vice Chancellor.

Other health institutions that have partnered with Kabarak include, Tenwek Hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital and PCEA Chogoria Hospital (VC).

The first group of students is expected to enrol beginning this September for various programmes, including Master of Medicine in Family Medicine, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery.

"With the birth of the new schools, we aim at making our graduates exceptional Christian professionals, complete with the craved for morals and empirical knowledge, which has for a long time become the missing link in most graduates. In this regard, we shall equip our students with the necessary skills and a strong commitment to their professions and the society at large," Prof Kaleli said.

On School of Music and Performing Arts, Kaleli said: "The music industry is set to benefit from new music programmes that have been launched this day, they are designed to equip learners with the requisite theoretical and practical knowledge relevant to the needs of the church and society," said Kaleli.

Programmes under this school include Master of Church Music, Master of Music Composition and Master of Musicology.

The VC paid tribute to Moi for his love of God and humanity, saying his love for music from the time of his youth was unparalleled. Similar sentiments were shared by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration and Finance) Henry Kiplagat.

The university is also at an advanced stage of putting up a teaching and referral hospital. The hospital, whose model has already been completed, will have a bed capacity of 500.

Also present were Pharmacy and Poisons Board Chairman Richard Makokha, Registrar of Nursing Council of Kenya Edna Tallam, Kefa Rabah, Vice Chancellor Academic and Research, Dr John Kibosia and Prof Ciarunji Chesaina.