Fred Were

Kenya, University of Nairobi

Fred Were is a professor of Perinatal and Newborn Medicine, dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Nairobi (UON), and chief executive officer of Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium. He graduated with a medical degree from the UON in 1984. He then undertook pediatric residency at the Kenyatta National Hospital, the teaching facility of the UON and graduated as a pediatrician in 1990. He obtained a fellowship in perinatal/neonatal medicine from the Monash University/Medical Centre in 1993. He was appointed lecturer in the UON in 1994 and obtained his PhD at the UON in 2007.

Prof. Were’s research interests lie in the areas of newborn medicine (with particular emphasis on nutrition of low birth weight infants) and health systems. He is committed to promoting child health advocacy, displaying particular vigor in the area of increasing childhood immunization coverage and public awareness. He has generated over 130 publications from his research activities.

Prof. Were previously served as national chairman of the Kenya Paediatric Association (2002-2012), committee member of the World Association of Perinatal Medicine (2008-2011), member of the International Pediatric Association Standing Committee (2013-2016), and president of the International Society of Tropical Paediatrics (2014-2017). He currently serves as chairman of the Network for Education and Support in Immunizations (from 2014), president of the Eastern African Paediatric Association (from 2010), and member of the Global Rotavirus Academy.

In addition, Prof. Were has sat on many immunization related committees, including the WHO African Technical Advisory Group for Measles (2013-2016) and the WHO African Technical Advisory Group for Immunization (2012-2015). He is currently a member of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) (from 2013). Locally, he is chair of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) (from 2014), the National Polio Certification Committee (from 2013), and the National Immunization Coordinating Committee (from 2017). Prof. Were has also participated in many advocacy groups including the African Vaccines & Immunization Network and the Pneumococcal Awareness Council of Experts.