This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
Kenyan doctors are set to receive training in Barbados under a new healthcare cooperation agreement signed between the two countries.
On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the deal at State House, Nairobi, during a state visit by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
The agreement was signed after the Africa, Caribbean Pacific Group of States Summit, which concluded on Tuesday.
Ms Mottley was one of the 13 heads of state from the Caribbean Pacific region who attended the summit, alongside 18 counterparts from Africa.
Under the agreement, Kenya will send medical interns to Barbados for training, while their counterparts from Barbados will come to Kenya for skills training.
President Kenyatta said, "We have signed an agreement with Barbados on healthcare cooperation to provide quality healthcare for our people. Barbados has excellent healthcare workers, which is a necessary requirement in the provision of Universal Health Coverage."
He added that Barbados medics would also come to Kenya to learn and observe from local practice standards and procedures.
"Kenyan medical interns will be able to see for themselves how their colleagues in Barbados take care of patients," President Kenyatta said.
"Interns from Barbados will also come here and see how we do things, and in the process, we will learn from each other and gain new skills and insight on providing world-class healthcare," he added.
The two leaders also met with members of the local business community to discuss available opportunities for investors from both countries.
President Kenyatta said, "We have had an opportunity to discuss agriculture, tourism, health, and sports issues with experts and members of the business community."
Kenya also signed a deal with Barbados on the avoidance of double taxation, which the president termed as vital for trade promotion and academic, cultural, and technological collaboration.
Ms Mottley expressed hope that two treaties covering investment and financial technology would be signed within the first quarter of 2020.
"There has to be a balance between regulation and practice, and we must do it in a way that protects the people," she said.
Ms Mottley also stated, "For centuries we have been separated by sea from a destiny that must be united. By taking hold of our future through this cooperation, we are saying that the centuries of separation must be left in the history books and not in the plans for the future."
President Kenyatta announced that the Barbados premier would be the chief guest at the Jamhuri Day celebrations to be held today at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
