African human and animal health researchers meet to build capacity

Accra, Oct. 20, GNA - Human and animal health researchers in Africa are meeting in Accra to build their research capacity for the betterment of human and animal health.

Under a consortium codenamed "Afrique One", made up of six African countries namely Ghana, Chad, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Tanzania and Uganda - they will be studying the broader range of zoonotic diseases, which affect both human and animal health. The week-long Third Planning and Evaluation workshop is organized by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana in collaboration with One Health Consortium, a health organisation.

It is aimed at building a critical mass of sustainable local research and capacity across Africa through strengthening African universities and research institutions and promoting the "One Health" concept. Dr Kennedy Kwasi Addo, Head of the Bacteriology NMIMR, addressing the media at a day's capacity building workshop for the media on "One Health", said human and animal health were closely linked so doctors and veterinarians needed to collaborate and communicate with each other at all levels on the occurrence of diseases that might affect animals and humans.

He said rabies and tuberculosis were diseases that affected both humans and animals and countries affected were recording high rates of cases killing people on the silent. The Consortium is funded by the Wellcome Trust based in the United Kingdom with a grant of five million pounds sterling for a period of five years. It is the first time such a grant has been awarded to African scientists.

The activities of the Consortium are designed to support 11 outstanding post-doctoral researchers and enrich research environments in which they work.

Professor Bassirou Bonfoh, Director of Afrique One, said promotion of the ecosystem, health and the limited capacity for research management and its implementation remained a problem. He explained that whilst research capacity required strong institutions, institutional strength was required through contributions of talented and committed individuals.

"It is only through the leadership abilities of Africans that sustainable research capacity in Africa will be strengthened", he added. Prof. Jakob Zinsstag, Northern Partner of Swiss TPH, said the principal foundation of Afrique One was for closer work among doctors, veterinarians and wildlife specialists to ensure the elimination of these diseases that plagued both humans and animals. Prof. Brain Perry, a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Consortium, commended Wellcome Trust for the grant and called on African governments to ensure that they abided by the Abuja Declaration that enjoined governments to commit one per cent of their budget to research. This, he said, would help build research capacity for a stronger evidence base to disease control policies and strategies. 20 Oct. 10