This blog marks the first installation of a six part series that will go behind the scenes into the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy’s August trip to Kenya, and the short documentary filmed there.  This first segment is an introduction to the trip and its objectives, narrated by Jennifer Cooke, director of the CSIS Africa Program. The main objectives of the trip were:

• To understand the impact of U.S. assistance
• To explore opportunities for better integration of U.S. programs
• To see how maternal and child health is improving in some parts of Kenya and to evaluate prospects for scaling up programs
• To study how Kenya and the United States can work together to create sustainable and effective programs

Before leaving for Kenya, we had the chance to interview Representative Keith Ellison [D-MN] on his thoughts and his plans to use Twitter to describe his experiences firsthand. Dr. Helene Gayle and Admiral William Fallon wrote a welcome letter to the delegation as part of the briefing materials for the trip. Later, Dr. Gayle wrote detailed personal accounts from Kenya on the CARE travel blog. We also produced a trip FAQ, and Katherine Bliss, Senior Fellow with the Global Health Policy Center, wrote a detailed article titled, “Kenya: The Big Picture on Health” that provides further background on the history of the Kenyan health system, financing, donor issues, and challenges.

As we move through the six parts of the trip documentary we hope you will enjoy these blogs and the experience of the Commission’s tour.

To watch the complete documentary and submit feedback, visit:  http://www.smartglobalhealth.org/documentary

Related Content

• Report of the CSIS Commission on Smart Global Health Policy
• Smart Global Health: A Fact Finding Mission to Kenya
• The Commission's First Year