J. Odhiambo
Department of Mathematics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197
Nairobi, Kenya, E-mail: mathuon@iconnect.co.ke
In September 1997 the East, Central and Southern African Network (now sub-Saharan African Network-SUSAN) of the International Biometric Society (IBS) held its fifth scientific meeting in Mombasa, Kenya. The theme of the conference was `Enhancing African Capacity in Biometry.' The main issues discussed during the conference included the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of biometry in Africa, the effective use of statistics in society, the role of biometricians as professional trainers and the role of biometricians in research institutions.
It was clear from the discussions that the use of mathematics and/or statistics is prevalent in a large number of agricultural, medical and environmental departments in many universities and polytechnics in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There are also a considerable number of students graduating in statistics and mathematics. However, statistical courses tend to be theoretical and do not give suitable practical training in biometry. There are thus insufficient numbers of qualified students equipped for the various spheres in which there are potential job opportunities, e.g. in medicine, pharmacy, environment, agriculture etc. On the other hand, the few biometricians that exist, many of whom have been trained abroad, appear to have been unable to interact effectively among themselves and with other colleagues. They also have limited access to current literature and are unable to keep up to date with modern statistical methods. It was concluded that the major threat to the development of biometrics as a highly recognised profession is, firstly, the apparent stagnation brought about by the misleading concept of the biometrician as a data technician, not as a scientist in an multidisciplinary team, and, secondly, the apparent lack of appreciation of the importance of the role of biometricians by policy makers.
A number of resolutions were made which can be summarised as follows:
Within Kenya itself there were strong recommendations to encourage university departments of statistics to develop stronger links with research institutions and to devise new courses in applied biometry. As a result, linkages were established between the Department of Mathematics of the University of Nairobi (UON) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to enable lecturers teaching courses in statistics at the university to acquire and develop skills in applied biometrics. These linkages were also to provide opportunities for joint training programmes at MSc and PhD levels in applied biometry.
The approaches that have been adopted are:
It was partly through these initiatives, and through its own appreciation of the shortcomings in training in applied biometry in East and southern Africa, that The Rockefeller Foundation was stimulated into financing the present workshop. We are most grateful to The Rockefeller Foundation and particularly to Dr John Lynam, for its positive support.
