University of Nairobi initiates undergraduate course in Sports Medicine

Professor George Osanjo of the University of Nairobi has revealed that the institution has rolled out an undergraduate course in sports medicine.

Speaking during the inaugural Health Services for Kenyan Athletes conference held in Eldoret over the weekend, the expert pointed out that the move was done in a bid to enhance research on athletes’ health.

“It has taken long to establish an undergraduate in sports medicine. We have had no robust training for undergraduates in general practice but we have been training sports medicine at postgraduate level,” he told the conference.

The two-day conference which was organized by St. Luke’s Orthopedic and Trauma Hospital in collaboration with Universite Cote d’Azur of France at the Eka Hotel brought together a number of sports personnel from the region.

They included former World Javelin champion Julius Yego and coaches; Patrick Sang and David Leting.

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The educative conference was aimed at educating athletes on injuries, mental health challenges, nutritional care, and chief among them, the dangers of using banned substances.

Eldoret-based universities like Moi University and the University of Eldoret promised to join hands in spearheading enhanced research in athletes’ health.

The local and international experts present also understood the toll that injuries can take on athletes.

They further pointed out that injuries go beyond physical pain, affecting the athletes’ mental health.

The conference comes at a time when multiple cross country champion and former half marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor pulled out of the 2023 New York Marathon due to injury.

Kamworor, had been battling a series of injuries in the previous years and had announced a return to the season. So far, things are not working well for him.

After the two days, the open secret was that the country still lags behind in treating and managing injuries suffered by athletes during training, and even worse in competitions.

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According to the Doctors’ Network which is a team of medical specialists accredited by Athletics Kenya to attend to athletes’ health challenges, this ill equipment results in a number of athletes seeking treatment abroad.

“We have come together to try and find solutions with the goal of improving athletes’ health. With this we can start projects that will improve the health of athletes, especially the upcoming group,” Dr Bargoria started.

“We are also focusing on athletes’ mental health, the psychological support that they can get, and the aspects of nutritional care and rehabilitation coming from injuries. Experienced physiotherapists who have worked with Kenyan athletes were incorporated because we needed their input,” he added.

The French Embassy in Kenya through the Attaché for Science and Higher Education Deputy Head of Cooperation Mathieu Guerin said that his country is keen on supporting her efforts to sustain the production of talent.