Emerging Trends for Reproductive Health in Africa Student Conference

Please excuse this non-chronologically correct journal entry: in my haste to publish my giraffe pictures, I forgot to first to talk about my activities earlier in the week! The Moi University School of Medicine students hosted and planned a wonderful conference titled, "Emerging Trends for Reproductive Health in Africa" and invited students from Kenya and beyond to attend.

The event began with a grand opening ceremony on Wednesday night, which I attended and enjoyed. All of the keynote speakers gave a small, welcoming speech and the students also participated through song, poetry, and dance before the eating and dancing began! I greatly enjoy the Kenyan tradition of opening an event with a dance (see video), and found I really like East African band music, too.

I even got to hang out with my new Kenyan friend, Leon, who is close acquaintances with the chair of the ENT department at Indiana University, Dr. Miyamoto. Leon was sponsored by an American family to come to IU to see Dr. Miyamoto to receive cochlear implants a few years ago.

The conference consisted of many great discussions and presentations, all related to reproductive health issues facing the continent, especially Kenyans. I wish I wouldn't have gotten sick during the middle of it, as I found the sessions I did attend very interesting and informative. Congrats go out to all of my Kenyan medical student friends who worked so hard orchestrating the entire event - well done!