Olympic runners meet when Kenyan delegation tours HCMC

A delegation from Eldoret, Kenya, known as the “Town of Athletes” visited HCMC on Wednesday, May 9. The group toured the emergency and radiology departments, and got a behind-the-scenes look at HCMC’s new hyperbaric chamber.

The delegation included 2-time Boston Marathon winner and Olympic marathon competitor Moses Kiptarbei Tanui who chatted with former Olympic athlete Fred Owusu, who now serves as Vice President of Human Resources at HCMC.

“Moses is the real celebrity runner,” says Owusu. “It truly is a small world — I never imagined I’d have the honor of meeting him here at HCMC!”

Minneapolis and Eldoret have had a formal sister city relationship since 2000 and exchanges have taken place in both cities.  In 2010 a delegation from Eldoret visited Minneapolis to study water treatment and distribution plus other topics, including planning and public health.  In 2011 a team of volunteers and members of the Minneapolis Fire Department visited Eldoret to conduct a fire and emergency response training.

In addition to an internationally recognized runner from the “Town of Athletes,” several physicians and other health officials were part of the 12-member delegation to Minneapolis this year.

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