•According to Naomi, the study provides valuable insights for shaping intervention strategies to prevent and control these diseases in livestock.
•The research opportunity in the pastoralist community was life-changing.
When she graduated in December last year with a Master of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Nairobi, her mother's bright eyes and hearty ululation brought back childhood memories of a dream achieved through dedication and consistency.
Naomi, 25 years old, a recent graduate of the Feed The Future Innovation Lab of Animal Health Masters Fellowship, was born and raised in Kenya's livestock production-rich county, Uasin Gishu. Her interest in becoming a veterinary doctor was nurtured early, watching how quality veterinary care influenced improved livestock production.
"I was raised and educated through the milk sales from my parents' dairy cattle farm. I watched and was interested in the resident veterinary doctor who treated our sick animals with great attention and skill. I was greatly motivated to pursue Veterinary medicine to ensure that my parents' cows and, to a larger extent, the community's livestock are healthy and productive," Naomi said.
Today, she has taken this interest an extra mile through her veterinary work, promoting efficient and sustainable livestock production for the health and welfare of animals and the public and environmental health.
When she began her Master of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nairobi two years ago, Naomi Chebichii Kibet was excited at the start of an introspective journey to study a topic very close to her heart: Veterinary Medicine.
She had enjoyed every bit of her undergraduate Veterinary medicine studies at the University of Nairobi. She was awarded a two-year scholarship under the Feed The Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health, allowing her to be close to animals and understand their well-being at a deeper level.
Her love for animals began in childhood, and her siblings and parents knew she would become a veterinary doctor. The professional job became a hobby shared with friends and extended to pet owners.
"My friends and I founded Paw Queens, where we provide animal health services such as general pet care, treatment, and basic tips on making our animal friends happier," said Naomi.
She has always had dogs as her companion animals since childhood. Naomi has used the skills and knowledge through her veterinary education to ensure that pets' health and welfare are always maintained. This led her to extend her services to other pet owners, founding Paw Queens Veterinary Services.
Her master's thesis investigated tick-borne diseases' prevalence and associated risk factors among calves in Narok County, Kenya.
The key findings showed that calves are relatively highly exposed 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," said Naomi.
According to Naomi, the study provides valuable insights for shaping intervention strategies to prevent and control these diseases in livestock.
She describes the highlight of her two-year academic journey as a blend of both classroom and field experiences that motivated and nurtured an interest in data-based decision-making.
"My research journey has significantly honed my skills and deepened my knowledge to participate in impactful research, leading me to my career path—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," Naomi has said.
Naomi conducted her research project in Narok County, a pastoralist dominant County. She appreciates that the Feed The Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health allowed her to improve her research skills and scientific writing.
"My community entry, engagement, and disengagement skills were significantly improved as she worked with the local leaders and community.
The research opportunity in the pastoralist community was life-changing.
"My favorite memory was the kindness of the local community demonstrated a cup of tea always provided whenever we visited a homestead.
However, she acknowledged that the biggest challenge was the rainy season, which made roads impassable and caused her to lose her research time.
One of the exciting moments during graduate school was confidently presenting at the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health annual meeting in front of my colleagues, students, supervisors, and the AHIL Supervisory team.
"Feed The Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health has that you will always cherish: Presenting my research at the annual meeting marked a significant departure from my comfort zone, as this was the first time I had addressed an audience. This experience taught me to cultivate self-confidence, foster expressive communication, and enhance my verbal skills," she says.
"I appreciate my mentors and supervisors, Prof George Gitau from the University of Nairobi, who was the Lead supervisor, and Dr Getrude Shepelo, my second supervisor from the University of Nairobi. Their support was invaluable."
So, what next?
She eagerly anticipates pursuing a PhD focused on researching health problems through a One Health approach. "The master's program through the Feed, the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health, is a pivotal step toward my aspiration of becoming a research scientist dedicated to addressing global health challenges. "
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Animal Health (AHIL) is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the Usaid Bureau for Resilience and Food Security.