People of AMPATH: Wendy Prudhomme-O'Meara and Patrick O’Meara
Wendy Prudhomme-O'Meara, PhD, and Patrick O’Meara moved to Eldoret in January of 2009 so Wendy, an associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, could conduct research on what she calls “the most fascinating disease on the planet”—malaria.
As is often the case, the association with AMPATH became a family venture and for more than a decade Patrick has used his background in vaccine manufacturing and engineering project management to serve the partnership in a variety of engineering and innovation roles.
Last winter, the Duke Global Health Institute published a profile of Dr. Prudhomme-O’Meara and her work that we are pleased to be able to share. Additionally, we spoke with Patrick about AMPATH and the unique contributions he has made to the partnership over the last decade.
Patrick O’Meara with part of the Wataalamu team
What makes the AMPATH partnership special?
The AMPATH partnership is special because you have North Americans in true long-term collaboration with Kenyans to improve the well-being, health and livelihoods of Kenyans. While we all bring special skills to the table, AMPATH’s success would not be possible if it were not for each of these remarkable individuals overcoming their differences and pulling together for a common goal. In pursuit of that goal, we all continue to garner invaluable lessons in humility, patience, the importance of listening, and respect for different cultures. The breadth of participating knowledge that the program attracts, partnered with the long-term commitments by its leaders and supporters, makes AMPATH flexible and adaptable enough for continued success. The return of former medical students as future program leaders is a clear demonstration of the program’s spirit.
What roles have you played over the course of your involvement?
O’Meara working with a bio digesting toilet technician.
I got involved with AMPATH as a volunteer with the Family Preservation Initiative. My role as a technical advisor meant getting pulled into various initiatives and issues where my expertise was helpful. My initial personal goal was to setup a Biomedical Maintenance Training Program, which would use a franchise model to train and empower AMPATH Clients to maintain the medical equipment at their local clinic. This idea formed into Wataalamu Repair & Maintenance (WR&M). 'Wataalamu' means ‘experts’ in Kiswahili.
After a field survey of nearly all of AMPATHs clinics at the time, I realized that there was a greater need for long-lasting infrastructure repair. WR&M used a hands-on training model to teach basic contracting skills (plumbing, electrical, masonry, painting & carpentry) to AMPATH clients that were carefully selected based on mechanical aptitude. Trainees participated in a 3-month hands-on training program, while the business itself performed small (and eventually large) renovations, repairs, furniture building, etc. As the business grew, I hired four of the 20+ graduates.
Many, many lives have been impacted through WR&M over the course of 11 years. Many of the trainees now work in industry and are known for their hard work, attention to detail and high standards. Through our work, we’ve demonstrated that affordable, quality contracting is a learnable skillset and viable small business model. And of course, WR&M was responsible for numerous high-quality facility renovations throughout its time that continue to impact healthcare delivery many years later, including: Mosoriot Clinic, Teso Clinic, Coolstream Restaurant, AMPATH Warehouse Basement offices, Rafiki Adolescent Clinic, Women’s Option Centers, Revolving Fund Pharmacies, PEARL (Teaching Lab Webuye) and more.
Other than founding WR&M, I have also:
· Conceptualized, designed and built two mobile diagnostic clinics (complete with off-grid x-ray machines & now fully solar powered!)
· Co-designed (with Duke University leads) and implemented biogas toilets to replace pit latrines in partnership with University of Eldoret
· Designed and built the PEARL Laboratory, complete with Insectary for rearing research mosquitos.
· Built composting toilets for areas with high water tables where pit latrines would contaminate ground water
Bio digesting toilet
· Participated in an advising role with facility management at AMPATH's Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital site
· Worked with the AMPATH surgery team to create a low-tech wound vacuum from an aquarium pump
· Overcame technical equipment issues with implementing cervical cancer cryogenic treatment equipment
· Designed and built emergency safe rooms for IU House
· Designed and built playground facilities for Sally Test Pediatric Center
· Designed pedal-powered borehole pumps for HHI farms
· Investigated container-based and other prefab buildings for possible AMPATH site expansions
What projects/ideas are on the horizon for you?
I will continue to lead improvements on the mobile diagnostic clinics and implement a fully solar-based power system. Our goal is ultimately to publish open source designs for its implementation in other low-resource settings. I am also continuing my work with Duke University on the biogas toilet systems and hopefully finding a way to productize the concept. Building on my time training with WR&M, I am exploring ideas for hands-on engineering classes with the Purdue University team at Tumaini Innovation Center. Of course, I am also awaiting the next engineering challenge for which the AMPATH leadership needs my help! (Read about the O’Meara’s innovative way to make dry ice while traveling from the U.S. to Kenya during a pandemic).
Why are global partnerships important
Global connection is inevitable in today’s world. Whether it be attributable to the internet, global warming, sports, or disease (a pandemic!), we are all more inextricably connected than ever before. Unless we are able to first admit that our daily actions have an impact on someone else across the planet, we will not be able to flourish as individuals and ultimately as a global community. Global partnerships not only provide a critical platform to discuss, manage, and shape this connectivity, but also helps us to be proactive both in learning from each other and in shaping the future together.