Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA Ghana) has officially commenced the third-country training courses for 2021.
The opening ceremony themed “Third Country Training Course on Enhancing Laboratory Skills for Infectious Diseases in West African Countries For Post Ebola” was held today Monday, 11th January 2021 at Noguchi Conference Hall.
The “Third Country Training Course” is organized by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA Ghana).
The course is intended to improve the competencies (knowledge and skills) of biomedical staff on infectious agents, facilitate orientation to new and emerging laboratory technology and promote networking on advanced laboratory management among West African countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Director of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Professor Abraham Kwabena Anang reiterated the need to strengthen the sub region’s preparedness towards the fight against emerging and re-emerging diseases.
“Following the emergence of Ebola in West Africa (2014-2016) and the recent global outbreak of Covid19 pandemic which is causing major loss of life and socioeconomic disruption globally, this training is important to strengthen the preparedness and responsiveness of the health systems within the West Africa sub-region”
As part of the training, Professor Anang says participants will learn the best laboratory practices and the latest innovations and technologies based on three thematic areas.
“The course that we organize has three components, we have one aspect of it which is focused on virology; which means looking at diseases that can be caused by viruses and how we to prevent, detec. Another focus of the course is bacteriology; we are looking at diseases that are caused by bacteria such as tuberculosis. And then we have added the third component which is parasitology” he added
The Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, Mr. Araki Yasumichi in his remarks, highlighted the relevance and timeliness of the training program on the response against the Covid19 pandemic in West Africa.
“The positive lessons and rich experiences acquired by ex-participants of the training made most of play a very significant role in the Covid19 strategy of their respective countries”
He added that based on this feat and positive reactions from participating countries, JICA has extended support for the third country training by additional three years from 2021 to 2024.
This year’s training course would be held at the NMIMR for 5 weeks from 4th January to 5th February 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Participants for the course are from nine countries; Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Togo, and Ghana.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute For Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana is a leading biomedical research institute and a reference laboratory in West Africa.
The institute was built with a grant from the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a gift to the Government and people of Ghana.
JICA Ghana continues to support Ghana’s effort at actualizing quality and accessible universal healthcare.
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Story by: Nana Abena Grant | universnewsroom.com
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