Dr. Chris Barasa

Dr Chris, the medical coordinator, Kenya is a medical doctor who, upon graduation from the University of Nairobi, School of Medicine, worked with the Ministry of health as the only medical doctor in a busy district hospital in Kisumu, Kenya. He was responsible for all medical and surgical inpatient and outpatient services. Being a rural district in Kenya and with a high prevalence of HIV-AIDS (15%) and other preventable diseases, his interest in public health approach to the management of health problems was further enhanced. For the time that he worked for the ministry of health, he also coordinated HIV/TB and research activities for the Family Aids Care and Education Services (FACES) – Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) program in the district.

His interest in public health and involvement in community activities was ignited when, as the president of the University of Nairobi’s Medical Students Association, he mobilized resources in conjunction with the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), organized medical camps in all parts of the country. This was not only aimed at taking health care closer to the majority marginalized and hitherto inaccessible communities but also enabled the medical students to get the community experience from their senior colleagues. This was, therefore, a way of translating the taught public health teachings into practice hence better grasping of the burden of disease in the country.

He was also an active member of the Medical Students Aids organization and founder of the Medical students’ mentorship program aimed at offering mentorship and professional guidance to especially the junior medical students.

He is also involved in various community activities in his home area with the aim of uplifting the health status of the community members and motivates young people to develop their careers in life.

For the last two years, he has worked as a deputy program director for ICAP – Columbia University, a program that focuses on developing sustainable health systems with close collaboration with the ministry of health. Together with the team, he helped the ministry of health decentralize ART/TB/hospital delivery services to 5 districts as a way of enhancing universal access to health care.

Dr Chris has a master’s degree in Health Systems Management and Policy from the King Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. He holds a Master’s in Business Administration degree in Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.

He is the medical coordinator of the Afro European Medical and Research Network (AEMRN), Kenya and a founder member and CEO of Health Education and Life Promotion (HELP) – Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization that is closely working with AEMRN to capacity build and promote networking and knowledge sharing for the betterment of low-Income countries and help develop sustainable health systems with the aim of enhancing universal access to education and health.

Dr Chris is a member of the Kenya Medical Association, the Kenya Human Life Professional Chapter, the Kenya Medical Practitioners’ and Dentists Board, the Alliance for Health Promotion and the Global Health Partnership.