Nigerian Institute of Medical Research 2020 Conference with CPD Certificate/Point

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) continue to create significant levels of suffering and morbidity throughout the tropical world. They affect over a billion people and accompany HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as the classic ‘diseases of poverty’. Considerable evidence suggests that NTDs place major constraints on economic development in most tropical countries. The potential for large scale improvements in health equity by tackling these diseases has been recognised in recent years by large-scale investment in controlling them. Among all of the African nations, Nigeria has the greatest number of people infected with Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Nigeria has been identified as the country with the greatest number of cases of the so-called high prevalence NTDs, such as the intestinal helminth infections, Schistosomiasis, Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Africa while ranking first for both Schistosomiasis and Onchocerciasis and third for lymphatic filariasis globally. Nigeria accounts for one-fourth or more of the global disease burden of both Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic filariasis.

Consequently, in January 2012 the World Health Organization (WHO) laid out a roadmap for controlling the burden of morbidity of neglected tropical diseases. This included goals for achieving control, local elimination “as a public health problem”, or reduction in disease burden to low levels by 2020. This could only be achieved when there is a pool of skilled professionals to actualise the laid out road map for controlling the burden of morbidity of NTDs.

As a research Institute with a mandate to develop human capacities through training for the promotion of national health and development, the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) is organising an intensive 6 day in-house training Course on diagnosis of schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, leprosy, dengue fever, rabies and diarrhoeal diseases, with a focus on good laboratory practice (GLP), notably quality assurance (QA), quality control (QC) and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Researchers, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Lecturers, Scientific officers, and Graduate students in order to enhance the capacity of laboratory personnel on the diagnosis of selected NTDs, including providing a leadership role in research and monitoring & evaluation of infectious disease programmes. This training will provide a pool of health professionals that will be readily available with relevant skills for the various aspects of the control/elimination programme for the achievement of the set Sustainable Development Goals target.

TRAINING OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this training is to build capacities of Researchers, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Technicians, Lecturers, Scientific officers, and Graduate students on field-applicable laboratory procedures, with requisite skills in the use of modern laboratory equipments and techniques for research and diagnosis of Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Specific objectives include: This training provides a general introduction to the techniques in the effective laboratory diagnosis of Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)

By the end of this course, participants should be able:

To demonstrate the use of modern equipment and current techniques for diagnosis (specimen collection, sample preservation, storage, processing and disposal of Medical waste) regarding schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and Buruli ulcer.

To describe the importance of GLP with the focus on QA/QC;

To improve their knowledge and skills on research ethics

To familiarize themselves with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for performance of laboratory techniques (microscopic methods, rapid-diagnostic test and RT-PCR methods) for the above-mentioned diseases

To develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for performance of laboratory techniques (microscopic methods, rapid-diagnostic test and RT-PCR methods) for the above-mentioned diseases

To perform microscopic methods, rapid-diagnostic test and RT-PCR methods for the above-mentioned diseases.

Learning objective: Improve skills laboratory professionals on current techniques in effective Laboratory case diagnosis of Neglected Tropical Diseases and how to effectively research on NTDs.

Course duration: Approximately 32 hour.

Certificates: Certificate available at the end of a successful participation in training.

This workshop is titled “CURRENT TECHNIQUES IN EFFECTIVE LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES” which will take place as follows:

Date: 8 – 13 March, 2020

Time: 8.00am to 5.00pm daily

Venue: Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Auditorium

Special Guest of Honour: Prof. Akin Abayomi – Lagos Sate Honourable Commissioner for Health

Speakers:

# Dr Chukwuma Anyaike (MBBS, FWACP) – Keynote speaker & National Coordinator Neglected Tropical Diseases

# Dr. Babatunde ADEWALE (Ph.D), Head of Department, Public Health and Epidemiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research

# Dr. Sulyman Medinat Ayobami (Ph.D) – Chief Research fellow, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, department of Public Health and Epidemiology.

# Dr. Adedapo Olufemi ADEOGUN (Ph.D) – Research Fellow, Public Health and Epidemiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research and Program Manager, Global fund Project on Vector Surveillance in five States in Nigeria.

# Mrs. OPARAUGO CHINEDUM TAAHIE (FMLSCN, Ph.D in view), Deputy Director Laboratory Services, Biochemistry and Nutrition Department and Former Quality Manager, Human Virology Laboratory and Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research

# Dr. Ngozi Mirabel Otuonye (FMLSCN, Ph.D), Deputy Director Laboratory Services/Lab Manager, Central Research Laboratory, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research & Adjunct Lecturer 1 Immunology Dept., College of Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Nnewi Campus Anambra State, Nigeria

# Mrs. Veronica Nnenna Victor Enya (FMLSCN, Ph.D in view) – Deputy Director (Laboratory Services), Public Health and Epidemiology Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research