PROFILE STORY (PERSONAL PROJECT)
University of Nairobi’s Veterinary Medicine Graduate Puts a Lid on Tickborne Diseases—and He’s Not Stopping There
Story by Collins Koech
A group of calves around a water trough
“There is a relatively high exposure of calves to tick-borne diseases in Narok County. This exposure has provided the calves with sufficient immunity to prevent them from suffering from the disease and its impact.”
-University of Nairobi Graduate Victor Otieno
Victor Otieno graduated with a master's degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Nairobi. As part of his course, he completed his thesis on the prevalence of tick-borne diseases and their associated risk factors among calves in Narok County, Kenya.
In his research, Victor found that there is a relatively high exposure of calves to tick-borne diseases in Narok County. As a result, this exposure has provided the calves with sufficient immunity to prevent them from suffering from the disease and its impact.
According to Victor, the study provides crucial information necessary to turn the tide on tick-borne diseases.
“The study's findings regarding the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases can serve as valuable insights for shaping intervention strategies aimed at preventing and controlling these diseases in livestock,” he said.
Victor graduated under the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health (AHIL) initiative. He attributes the highlight of his graduate experience to the sharpening of his skills and expertise, which led to the discovery of his career path.
“My research journey has significantly honed my skills and deepened my knowledge in the field. Through this experience, I've not only cultivated a passion for conducting impactful research but also uncovered my career path—dedicating myself to producing evidence-based solutions to world health challenges. Engaging in data analysis activities has demystified the 'R' language for me, proving that it is not an enigma but a valuable tool within my grasp,” he said.
AHIL is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Government’s Global Hunger & Food Security Initiative. It is led by the WSU Paul G. Allen School for Global Health’s NGO, Global Health – Kenya. The research is in partnership with scientists from the University of Nairobi, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, the International Livestock Research Institute, and the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation.
The project aims to address animal health challenges related to agriculture and food security. Consequently, part of its goals is to train future animal health researchers at the post-doctoral, PhD, and master's levels.
For Victor, one of the special moments during his AHIL training was when he learned to nurture his interpersonal skills. This moment came while he was presenting his research.
“Presenting my research at the annual meeting marked a significant departure from my comfort zone, as I had never addressed an audience before. This experience taught me to cultivate self-confidence, foster expressive communication, and enhance my verbal skills,” he said.
Victor describes his research supervisors—Professor George Gitau, who was his lead supervisor, and Dr. Getrude Shepelo, second supervisor—as his mentors. He adds, “Their support throughout the research experience was invaluable, as they collaborated with me during the thesis writing process.”
With the completion of his master’s degree, Victor is now setting his sights on the realm of doctoral studies.
“I eagerly anticipate pursuing a Ph.D. degree focused on researching health problems through a One Health approach. I envision this as a pivotal step towards my aspiration of becoming a research scientist dedicated to addressing global health challenges,” he says.
