The University of Eldoret administration, in collaboration with the US based Life University and partners, have finalised the arrangements to roll out the first-ever degree course in Chiropractic care in Kenya.
While speaking during the launch of Chiropractic awareness and outreach mission at the UoE’s Main Campus in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Thomas Cheruiyot welcomed the partnership between the two universities.
He noted that through the chiropractic experience and support from Life University, UoE would be able to offer a Bachelor of Science in Sports Health Science degree, which includes a focus on chiropractic care.
This programme is a joint academic initiative with Life University, an institution known for its chiropractic expertise. The programme aims to prepare students for careers in sports health, with a specific emphasis on chiropractic principles and practices.
Prof. Cheruiyot affirmed that the institution has set aside sufficient resources in the Department of Health Sciences to see that Chiropractic curriculum is a success to serve both the surrounding communities in Uasin Gishu and neighbouring counties of Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet, which are home to athletic professionals.
“As a university, we are happy with our collaboration; we are ready to work with you. It is a big deal to introduce Chiropractic curriculum under the Department of Health Sciences. It will play a key role in serving the community around the county and region, especially the athletes who suffer from various injuries,” alluded the VC.
In his remarks, the President of Life University, Georgia, USA and Chiropractic and Applied Physiology Expert Dr. Rob Scott explained that as chiropractors, they view health from an inside-out perspective as opposed to the traditional view from outside.
He indicated that all organ systems have a way to express their health condition for themselves and all those systems are able to flourish as long as the body is self-organised, maintained and able to build its own self-healing mechanism.
“To provide it with the ability to express itself to the best potential, Chiropractic is focusing on adjusting the way your body nervous system communicates with the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is coordinating every activity of the organ system in your body, monitoring it, regulating it, and if there is any problem, it responds quickly to fix it,” explained Dr. Scott.
He explained that in chiropractic care, the doctor is assessing the patient’s spine bones, which are a window to the nervous system and they adjust literally to allow communication to occur more friendly between the body and brain and vice versa so that the person can always maintain him/herself.
“This allows you to express your health’s best potential. However, it is important that we check your nervous system to work well in addition to eating well, exercising and all other approaches to healthcare,” he added.
Noting that working with the health sciences department, the Chiropractic Association of Kenya was instrumental in enhancing chiropractic in Kenya.
The Chiropractic and applied physiotherapy expert affirmed that their aim is to bring chiropractic by Kenyans for Kenyans and that the collaboration is an opportunity for them with some experience to support Kenyans in Chiropractic.
Dr. Margaret Stower, Chiropractor, Physiotherapist from the Chiropractic Association of Kenya which deals with registration of the chiropractors in the country, expressed pleasure to see that the University of Eldoret is creating a school of chiropractic here in Kenya noting that there were only three chiropractic schools in Africa; 2 in South Africa and 1 North Africa.
“It is a great honour to have the University of Eldoret offering chiropractic courses; the chiropractic association of Kenya is behind you all the way,” said Dr. Stower.
“We are only 17 chiropractors in Kenya: 10 Kenyans and 7 foreign nationals; they are here practising, and there is the need to invest in chiropractic care,” she added.
The introduction of Chiropractic practice at UoE has been well received by the administration, partners and leadership team, including the Governors of the County Governments of Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi.
The programme was hailed, as it assists to improve an athlete’ performance through natural healing and aids in preventing sports injuries while promoting better healthcare for the athletes. Chiropractic treatment is an alternative treatment that does not require the use of any medical treatment but the use of the Chiropractor’s hands to align the body accordingly.
Life University is the leading and largest Chiropractic and Holistic Health and Wellness College in the world having Graduate and master’s programmes. Their long-term goal of increasing their reach throughout the world led to the relationship with the University of Eldoret.
The Life University and University of Eldoret MoU was signed in March 2021 to provide for cooperation on academic activities between the two universities to strengthen mutual understanding, foster friendly cooperation, and promote sustainable and productive collaboration and exchange between faculty, researchers and students.
Dr. John Downes and Dr. Hussein Elsangak (Life University) visited the University of Eldoret twice (2021 and 2023), culminating in a return visit by the UoE team – Prof. Thomas Cheruiyot and Dr. Silah Misoi – in July 2023.
By Ekuwam Sylvester
