KTMC Gets Kshs 80 Million Grants to Combat Cardiometabolic Diseases

In todays latest KMTC News – KTMC Gets Kshs 80 Million Grants to Combat Cardiometabolic Diseases. The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) has received a USD 635,575 (Kshs 80 million) grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF) to make KMTC Karen Campus a Centre of Excellence in training dieticians and nutritionists specializing in Cardiometabolic Diseases.

This funding will help improve the Nutrition and Dietetics curriculum and upgrade facilities to train skilled professionals who will help prevent and manage these diseases.
Speaking at the grant launch at KMTC Karen Campus, Health Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, emphasized the College’s key role in training healthcare workers. “KMTC continues to be a pillar in healthcare training, equipping students with the skills needed to provide quality care to Kenyans,” she said. Cardiometabolic Diseases include preventable conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, kidney disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These diseases are a major global health challenge.

“In Kenya, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) account for 50 percent of hospital admissions and 55 percent of hospital deaths, overtaking HIV/AIDS and malaria as leading causes of death,” she said.

The Danish Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Stephen Schonemann, praised KMTC for its growth and contributions to healthcare training.

He also highlighted Denmark’s commitment to working with KMTC and the Kenyan government to enhance healthcare training. Vice Chair of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Board, Mr. Lars Much, spoke about the Foundation’s efforts to improve healthcare.
“This grant will equip more health workers with the necessary skills to fight cardiometabolic diseases. Long-term collaboration is key to making a lasting impact,” he noted.
KMTC Board Chairperson Joseah K. Cheruiyot thanked the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the African Population and Health Research Centre for their support.

He noted that the project aligns with KMTC’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which focuses on training professionals to meet Kenya’s healthcare needs.
CEO, Dr. Kelly Oluoch, highlighted the grant’s importance in fighting NCDs.
“KMTC provides 85% of Kenya’s mid-level healthcare workforce. This grant will help us train even more competent professionals to tackle emerging health challenges,” he said.

The initiative builds on KMTC’s existing Partnership in Education Programme (PEP Grant), which is also funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and supports research and training in cardiometabolic disease management.

“This milestone adds to KMTC’s recent achievement of ISO 9001:2015 certification, affirming its commitment to quality training and healthcare service delivery,” he noted.
KMTC remains committed to training healthcare professionals to support Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage goals and improve community health.