MOI UNIVERSITY, BY DR. JAY SCHWARTZ

By Dr. Jay Schwartz

Introduction

Some years ago, Dr. Jay Schwartz participated in an aid program based in Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya. Dr. Schwartz worked in the pediatric ward of the university’s medical center. Established in 1984 with an initial class of 83 students, Moi University now hosts some 32,000 students on four campuses.

About Moi University

The school has become well known for its community outreach programs. For instance, Moi University maintained an extensive presence at the Eldoret Agricultural Show; the College of Health Sciences provided free dental checkups and screenings for prostate cancer and diabetes. Visitors also received body mass index information and blood pressure checks. The university has also delivered beds to local healthcare facilities.

Conclusion

Moi University also sponsored a community symposium that dealt with sustainable development and other issues. Topics covered included overgrazing of farm lands, the persistence of poverty, and the expansion of irrigation and greenhouses that will increase local supplies of fruits and vegetables.

About the author: Dr. Jay Schwartz, of McKinney, Texas, has won several awards for his services as a pediatrician at Collin County Pediatrics in Frisco, Texas.