The SACIDS Foundation for One Health is implementing a project titled “Strengthening scientific capacity for surveillance and response to Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF) in Tanzania” through the support of the Korean National Institute of Health (KNIH). SACIDS and KNIH organized a training workshop on the application of molecular and serological technologies held at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in Morogoro, Tanzania.
The objective of the training workshop was to build capacity in the wide application of molecular and serological technologies, and their derivatives, as tools for the primary analysis of diagnostic samples, with focus on viral hemorrhagic fevers. This was a 3-day training workshop conducted from December 18-20, 2018.
The training was attended by 13 participants from Tanzania and Liberia. From Tanzania, the following institutions were represented: Sokoine University of Agriculture; National Institute for Medical Research; Ifakara Health Institute; Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children. From Liberia, participants came from University of Liberia – Pacific Institutefor Research and Evaluation (PIRE) Africa Centre, JFK Medical Centre, Monrovia. The training was facilitated by experts from Korea National Institute of Health, South Korea (Drs. Joo-Yeon Lee, Jeong-Sun Yang, and Hee-Young Lim) and Sokoine University of Agriculture (Prof. Gerald Misinzo).
The topics covered and knowledge impacted focused on the theoretical aspect of application of molecular and serological technologies as well as hands-on practices and running of experiments clinical samples. Knowledge and skill impacted included analysis of real time PCR data using Korean developed VERI-QPCR model. The use of VERI-QPCR chip assays to detect multiple VHF viruses in serum samples was introduced to participants. The participants had hands-on practice experience to master the use of molecular technology in the diagnosis of VHFs. The outcome was an improved capacity to diagnose VHFs using genomic-based assay.
