The Kenya Alliance of Health and Science Reporters (KAHSR), a journalism association Rachel Jones launched in November, now offers regular training workshops and resources on topics such as new vaccines, children’s health and agricultural research. The association is supported by a grant from the London-based Wellcome Trust. At Alliance workshops, journalists can interact with the country’s leading medical researchers and scientists.

Jones also helped editors and reporters to produce high-quality health reports in leading Kenyan newspapers and magazines, such as the influential East African, the Daily Nation and The Star. The East African ran a special eight-page section on pneumonia, with Jones’ guidance.

Health experts credited media coverage of the new vaccine with boosting turnout in a children’s vaccination campaign. Pneumonia claims the lives of an estimated 30,000 youngsters in Kenya each year. Jones and KAHSR have been asked to lead health training programs sponsored by the World Health Organization, Save the Children UK and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. These trainings are building a strong reputation for the new association. organization.