Prof. Margaret Keraka

Biography

Prof. Margaret Nyanchoka Keraka was instrumental in establishment of the Department of Environmental Health in 2003 and she is the currently Chairperson of the Department of Environmental and Population Health, School of Public Health in Kenyatta University. She has participated in the development of Bsc. Community Health programmes for AMREF/Moi University, Bsc. Medical Education programme for the Aga Khan University, Kenya and Bsc Community Health for Technical University of Mombasa. She is interested in research in such areas as: Sexual and Reproductive Health, and HIV AIDS, Maternal and Child Health, and WASH. She is currently the Co-coordinator for the Gender Equity in Environmental Health training, a research that is being conducted under the African Academy of Environmental Health. She has also been involved in consultative research on evaluating Community Based Health Care Strategy in a Kibwezi, Community in Kenya. She has co- authored a book on Burden of Childhood Diarrhea from Water, Sanitation and Hygiene focusing on low income settlements in Nairobi. This is begged on the fact that Child mortality in low income settlements is still very high compared to national estimates. In addition she has recently published two papers i.e Factors Associated with Default from Treatment among Tuberculosis Patients in Nairobi Province, Kenya: A Case Control Study and Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets Utilization Amongst Pregnant Women in Thika District Prof. Margaret in collaboration with Dr Tracy Morse of University of Malawi polytechnic won a grant in 2009 that focused on Gender Equity in Institutions Offering Environmental Health Programmes in Africa - MRCI 328. In 2008 she in collaboration with member of eight African Universities won a grant That facilitated the establishment of Africa Academy for Environmental Health(AAEH). The Academy has since developed environmental health curricula and accredited diploma degree programmes in environmental health in SADC higher education institutes. Prof. Margaret Keraka leads the Academic portfolio and has coordinated the development of an Internationals Generic Curriculum in Environmental Health. The curriculum is currently being piloted in some countries in the Southern and eastern parts of Africa. Prof. Margaret has been involved in various consultative research activities such as 2007: Policy implications of Integration of HIV/AIDS and reproductive health programmes in Africa Consultancy for UNFPA, UNICEF and NCAPD. Prof. Keraka is currently offering consultation services to AMREF in the areas of Health systems research and Monitoring and evaluation of AMREF ministry of health projects research activities

Research Interest

Sexual and Reproductive Health, and HIV AIDS, Maternal and Child Health, and WASH.