A four-day sub-regional workshop on the management of equipment and basic metrology in veterinary laboratories commenced Monday at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi. The synergy is being executed by the Ministry of Agriculture, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the France Veterinary International (FVI).
Speaking on behalf of the minister of Agriculture, the head of veterinary services, Dr. Kebba Daffeh said The Gambia has been a key partner in West and Central Africa Network of Diagnostic Veterinary Laboratories (RESOLAB) since its launching in Bamako, Mali, in December 2007 by FAO and partners.
That network, he said was launched with the objective of improving the technical capacity of all nations’ veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the region through training, logistics and technical support, exchange of technicians and transparent sharing of information within a sustainable framework in response to the then emerging threat posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
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Dr. Daffeh observes that given the limited structural and operational capacity of their veterinary services in the sub region to effectively deal with Avian Influenza and other trans-boundary animal diseases, particularly in the area of laboratory diagnosis, strengthening laboratory diagnostic capabilities is considered as a very important component.
For his part, the FAO country representative in The Gambia Dr. Babagana Ahmadu, said the incursion of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in Africa in early 2006 has attracted the attention of the international community on the weaknesses of Africa’s veterinary services and therefore promoted the launching of formal veterinary diagnostic networks as a mean to standardise laboratory testing methods, pool resources, streamline communications and share information.
“For three years now based on RESOLAB and EARLN annual coordination meetings’ recommendations, FAO and its partners have supported these two networks to produce and implement a specific roadmap for strengthening laboratory quality system,” he stated.
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The FAO local boss said the four-day training is meant to improve each participant’s skills in developing and implementing an equipment management programme that meets the requirement of the internationally recognised ISO 17025 standard for diagnostic laboratories.
He expressed hope that at the end of the training, participants would be in a position to develop and apply basic laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration programmes adapted to suit their laboratory environment and needs.
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