The Little Institute That Could (Can!)

Tropical Institute of Community Health (TICH)

The Tropical Institute of Community Health and Develop (TICH) was started as a private institute in Kenya in 1998. One of its founders, Dr. Dan Kaseje, is the current director and inspirational leader of the institute. Dan, along with many dedicated men and women who believe in TICH and its philosophy, have brought the institute to the brink of being a university. Over the last six years, they raised funds and library books and hope as well as buildings.

TICH is unique in its academic program because the curriculum couples classroom learning with hands-on, practical experience working with communities to improve their health and livelihood. Communities seeking expert guidance in farming, husbandry or health issues contact TICH. Partnering with the community, TICH will send out instructors and students to research the community’s needs and write recommendations. Part of the student’s course work is doing the research, analyzing the data, interacting with the community and assessing progress as the program is implemented.

There are thought to be approximately 300,000 young people in Kenya who want to attend college. The University of Nairobi has about 30,000 students. Combined, private and public schools of higher education in Kenya are capable of servicing only 50,000 students each year. Currently, TICH is running diploma and bachelor programs in Community Health & Development (CH&D) while awaiting accreditation as a university from the Commission of Higher Education (CHE). Until that comes through, they cannot begin their bachelor of nursing program or their masters of CH&D. Both programs have been approved by the CHE, but TICH can’t launch them without accreditation.

The science lab is in place, the classrooms have been built, staff has been hired, all to meet the CHE’s requirements for accreditation. In a country where people are working hard to make their dreams come true, dreams of improving the lives of their fellow countrymen, the only thing stopping them is their government. However, TICH is the little institute that could…and can. The devoted staff will continue working toward the day CHE grants the letter of interim authority. The library’s inventory is being put into a computer database. Right now, to find a book, one must use the card catalogue. TICH’s IT server is on dial-up, but there is talk of getting a satellite for internet connection, just like the CDC and the Red Cross. Progressing, thinking big, dreaming big, TICH is on its way.