“Knowledge stays with us”: PROTECT impact story from Kenya

The PROTECT network aims to lay the foundations for the decade of maternal vaccines by strengthening hospitals' capacity in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Uganda to conduct vaccine trials.

To reach this goal, the consortium is building partnerships with hospitals and supporting them to establish systems for collecting and analysing samples, better understanding the burden of GBS and other diseases, and collecting data through pregnancy registries. With these capabilities, the hospitals will be able to monitor vaccine safety and participate in vaccine trials in the future.

We spoke with Dr Priscilla Kashero and Love Mbega from the Mariakani Sub County Hospital in Kenya to hear about their perspective on the immediate and long-term effects on the hospitals participating in the PROTECT study. In the interviews, they reflect on the effects PROTECT has had on their work, how the hospital's capacity to care for newborns has changed, and which of these benefits will persist beyond the project.

If you’re looking to learn more about the recent project milestones, make sure to explore our news page.