In 1961, on the initiative of Sir Arthur Porrit (Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the surgeon to the Royal family from 1936 onwards), a working party on Medical Aid to the Developing Countries was set up and the following year their report entitled 'Medical Aid to the Developing Countries' was published. Its recommendations were accepted by the Government, almost in their entirety, and universities were invited by the Government Department of Technical Co-operation to explore the possibilities of establishing mutually advantageous links with overseas universities. The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Glasgow at once expressed a wish for such an association with the University of East Africa. Four Glasgow representatives made an exploratory visit to Kampala, Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam in February 1964. Recruitment of Glasgow staff began in November 1964, their duties being to organise and participate in the undergraduate teaching programme at Nairobi on lines similar to those used at the medical school at Makere and to promote further development of post-graduate work.
The collection was gathered together by Mr William Reid, Honorary Secretary of the Senior Fellows Club, following a meeting in March 1984 at which Professor Charles M. Fleming and Stewart Kennedy gave a talk on the Glasgow contribution to the University of East Africa.
From the guide to the Glasgow University Medical School's contribution to East Africa, 1962-1984, (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow)
