By Jameson
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), in collaboration with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, is strengthening HIV research and care in Western Kenya, focusing on cure studies, expanded diagnostics, and long-acting therapies.
Speaking at the 16th KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health Conference, Dr. Frederick Sawe, Director of the Henry Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Kenya Program at the KEMRI–Walter Reed collaboration in Kericho, said the program operates under a partnership model where KEMRI hosts Walter Reed with support from the Foundation.
The Kericho program is built on two pillars: medical research and direct HIV care across Kericho, Nandi, Homa Bay, and Narok counties. The facility conducts around 250,000 HIV viral load tests annually, providing clinicians with critical data to guide patient treatment.
The center also offers advanced tuberculosis diagnostics, particularly for complicated or drug-resistant cases referred from across the region.
Dr. Sawe emphasized the need for greater public education on HIV cure research, noting that medically supervised treatment interruption in clinical trials has caused confusion among patients and some healthcare workers.
“We need to demystify HIV cure research. There is a lot of misunderstanding,” he said, calling for engagement with healthcare workers, civil society, religious leaders, and the media to prevent misinformation.
On long-acting HIV drugs, Dr. Sawe highlighted affordability and delivery systems as key challenges. While global pressure has opened doors for generic production, strong supply chains, trained personnel, and adequate infrastructure are essential for effective rollout. The Kericho team is studying how injectable long-acting treatments can be delivered efficiently in resource-limited settings.
Globally, a few patients have achieved sustained HIV remission following complex procedures such as bone marrow transplants, demonstrating that a cure is scientifically possible. Dr. Sawe stressed that sub-Saharan Africa, home to nearly two-thirds of people living with HIV, must play a leading role in cure research.
“The world needs us. We have the patients and can generate the data that benefits everyone,” he said, noting that the Kericho facility operates at international standards, enabling its findings to integrate seamlessly with global research efforts.
As trials continue, Dr. Sawe expressed optimism that sustained remission without lifelong therapy may become achievable, provided research is coupled with strong community engagement and health system investment.
While there is currently no HIV vaccine, scientists worldwide continue to work toward one. Since 2012, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been widely used, including in Kenya, as a preventive strategy for people at risk of HIV infection. PrEP involves the use of antiretroviral medication by HIV-negative individuals to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.
As of September 2015, the World Health Organization recommends that people at substantial risk of HIV infection be offered tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based oral PrEP as part of comprehensive prevention. Oral PrEP is highly effective when used as directed. Research is ongoing into additional prevention options, including multipurpose products that combine antiretroviral drugs with contraception.
