Launch of Afya Innovation Lab at UoN
The University of Nairobi Faculty of Health Sciences on 1st December, 2023 officially launched the Afya Innovation Lab, a lab that aims to foster a culture of health entrepreneurship and innovation at the Faculty.
The lab will bridge the gap between academia and the industry, and drive transformative healthcare solutions and contribute to the advancement of medical research, technology, and healthcare delivery in Kenya and beyond.
Speaking during the launch, Faculty of Health Sciences Dean Prof. George Osanjo congratulated the students for the great step they have taken towards nurturing innovative ideas at the faculty. He also promised to provide support from the faculty including space for meetings and facilitate collaborative opportunities with other universities as a way of expanding the prospects of the success of the Afya Innovation Lab team.
“For the next five years, the University has in its strategic plan 20023/2028 a pillar of strengthening innovation and research and I am glad that we are already ahead of the game with the Afya Innovation Lab,” he said.
The Innovation Lab Patron, Dr. Sylvia Opanga from the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology expressed her deepest gratitude to the students for allowing her to lead them and for the great work done in ensuring that the club grows not only in numbers but in terms of innovations that have been actualized beyond the lab.
The rapidly evolving healthcare landscape calls for novel approaches to tackle complex health challenges. The Faculty recognizes the need for a dedicated platform that nurtures innovative ideas and fosters collaborations between students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs. Afya Innovation Lab is envisioned as a catalyst for transforming these ideas into practical solutions with the potential to impact healthcare outcomes and promote socioeconomic development,” Dr. Opanga said.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stephen Kiama was represented at the lunch by Prof. Mary Kinoti, Director Intellectual Property and Management. Prof. Kiama congratulated the Afya Innovation Lab team and expressed his pride in the steps they have taken in embracing and growing innovations.
He emphasized on the University’s commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship especially by the university students.
“Collaboration is where the secret of success of any innovation lies,” Prof. Kiama said.
The Vice Chancellor advised the students to keep up the good job and promised to support them nurture their great minds and ideas.
The establishment of the Afya Innovation Lab within the University of Nairobi, Faculty of Health Sciences holds immense potential to drive health entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration.
By providing a supportive ecosystem, offering specific programs, and fostering partnerships, the lab aims to address healthcare challenges, develop transformative solutions, and contribute to the advancement of medical research and healthcare delivery. Through its endeavors, the lab strives to create a vibrant innovation ecosystem that benefits students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and society as a whole.
