science cafe! on BBC(swahili)

http://www.kemri-wellcome.org/node/412

Sylvia quoted

What is Research?

" Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our understanding of the phenomenon under study".

What is health Research?

"To me Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. Therefore Health research is the process of collecting or analyzing information to increase our understanding in order to provide a cure to our Social well-being, mentally and physically".

Is is relevant?

"Yes it is extremely relevant. If there wasn't study in health, you wouldn't be alive to ask the question, and I wouldn't be alive to answer it. So I ask you, is there importance in what we're doing now? does it justify the study of health?"

Kaloki's view...

. . .research is finding out stuff through investigation on the ground.

health research is investigation of things that can either be good or bad for human consumption or activities.

health research, i believe, is very relevant because it takes out the human worry of doing things because the risks and dangers ....

Fred Abuga. . .

A good and comprehensive research prevents further damage to human lives, and ensures that the environment is free of germs that cause various diseases.

A poor research sees a comeback of diseases, especially viral and flu even in places that were once cleared.

Health research takes into account that the scope of study is wide so that diseases are put on hold simultaneously. The case of swine flu in the country is an example. The first case of it in Kisumu was quarantined only for the flu to resurface in other places.

under the microscope...

Ory says.....

Public health

"Working health facilities that can be easily accessed by the masses resulting in better health practices"

What is research?

"Looking for answers or better understanding"

What is health research?

"Search for the cure of diseases and illnesses"

Is it important?

"Yes it is . Until we mix mad scientists, politics and greed resulting in creation of diseases to reduce the population of certain parts of the world"

"Research is just doing research. Health research is having a
general health check up and it is important because it helps in discovering
diseases and being ready. I think scientists are better than doctors because I
have dealt with doctors and they haven’t impressed me so far, so am giving the
scientist the benefit of the doubt". Cyrus.

Kota " it is an experiment like being an artist. It is very deep. Health research is an experiment on health matters. It is important to for knowing body functions."

Research is finding out information about something. Wanting to know more about something : knowing the environment and it’s conditions. It is relevant in Kenya, otherwise why is the common cold still common?

Kepha Mosoti.

Wanjau says:

Research is trying to find out the cause of something, its outcome and what
next. Health research is finding out how you can live well and how to control
the diseases. It is important because it helps to discover that which can doom
mankind.

“in think I need to sit down and understand health research”

on research, health research and its relevance...

Research is something that has been there and should be developed. I do not know what health research is because I did not study diseases. However, it is important because diseases like malaria has continued to mutate and become resistant over the years, and it is important to know how to control them.

Omosh Kindeh

. . .about health research. . .

I have never known what goes on with health research, take the case of this thing, swine flu, a child catches it, and heals even before the diagnosis is done. What research is that, how slow are the results!!!!

I have tried to understand; why is it they lack? is it funds? Or is the research never ending without any steps forward? in short, I have never seen the results of research.

The only time I ever felt like researh was making headway was during the time of Prof Obel and KEMRI.

It is almost like the results from research only trickles in, and it worries me!!

Kevin Oduor.

Fred Abuga says....

Public health is the conscious knowledge of general public hygiene. It is concerened with one's environment and that of others.

A good public health ensures safety of health and prevents communicable deseases.

. . . on Health Research: it is relevant in Kenya because there are so many communicable deseases that need to be researched in order to find various cures, this includes HIV/AIDS and swine flu. . .

Yea, I said it!!

Basically, what we are doing is having artists understand who scientists from the Kemri-wellcome organisation are, what they do, why . . . The artists then get to work with high school students based on their experience with these scientists, to come up with art that will be exhibited under the title 'what is health research. . .'

it all sounds so simple, right? think again. . . already, a conversation about public health has been sparked at the Kuona Trust Center for visual arts, and it has been intresting, and sometimes alarming to hear what this community's perception on public health is.

over the coming days, artists will be posting their views on this topic as the vibe goes on. I, for one, cannot wait.