Director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) at the University of Ghana, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, has emphasized the need to ensure that laboratories are well-equipped with modern diagnostic instruments to fight against the outbreak of infectious diseases.
She made these remarks at the closing ceremony of the ‘The Third Country Training Course on Enhancing Laboratory Skills for Infectious Diseases in West African Countries’, which was held at the Noguchi Advanced Research Laboratories (ARL) on November 21, 2023.
The institute, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has provided a comprehensive and in-depth laboratory-based training program in modern diagnostic techniques and preparedness for disease outbreaks.
In commemorating the ceremony, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu also disclosed that the institute is working tediously to develop vaccines for incurable diseases by 2040.
“Over the years, this training has been very important because it enables young men and women to make an impact in the fight against infectious diseases, and as such, we must embrace it. As an institute, we are aiming to improve the preparedness of countries in the sub-region and Africa as a whole, as well as develop vaccines for incurable diseases by the year 2040.”
Also present at the ceremony, Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA, Oda Ryotaro stated that one of the goals of the training was to expand training to other African nations based on how well a research approach matches a particular country.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noguchi handled over 80% of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 in Ghana, and since then, we have placed emphasis on preparedness against the outbreak of infectious diseases, so we need to strengthen the capacity of laboratories in each country. Also, looking at the importance of laboratory skills and knowledge, we are expanding the training to other West African countries with the partnership of Noguchi, as it is now capable of providing training to other countries. We also need to coordinate among the sub-regions and build a network of laboratories, as infectious diseases have no borders.”
Fifteen trainees were selected from African countries including Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo, comprising seven females and eight males. The training course, which lasted for eight weeks equipped participants with skills in modern diagnostic techniques and preparedness for disease outbreaks.
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Story by: Kuuku Osei-Baidoo | univers.ug.edu.gh
