WACCBIP-NCHS trains Biomedical Scientists

*The Trainees with dignitaries at the opening session.

The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana, in collaboration with the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS) has organised a training Workshop for Biomedical Scientists from some of the Catholic Health Facilities in the country.

The programme which aims at building the capacity of the Biomedical Scientists, is geared towards equipping the skills of the Scientists, as part of efforts to improve quality healthcare delivery in the country.

Dr. Lydia Mosi, Head of Department of the Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, noted the essence of scientific research and its contribution to the general improvement of healthcare delivery in the country, and highlighted the opportunities available for candidates who wish to pursue further studies.

She urged the trainees to take advantage of the opportunities available at the school to upgrade and update themselves.   

Prof. Gordon A. Awandare, Director of WACCBIP, in an address called on government to support more Ghanaian students desirous of pursuing further studies in the sciences to come to WACCBIP, which is equally accredited to run competitive Masters and PhD programmes compared to any international University.

He noted the need to support from government and industry to augment the cost of training high quality Scientists in the country who would help bring out innovative through research in the industry and in country at large.

Prof. Awandare explained the Centre’s focus as that of skill training, with funding from a World Bank facility through the Government of Ghana, adding that his gratitude for the Catholic Church’s interest in what the Centre was offering.

As one the World Bank’s African Centres of Excellence (ACE), he said WACCBIP’s mandate was to improve diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, through the provision of advanced level training and research excellence on the cell and molecular biology infectious pathogens.

Mr. George Adjei, Director of the NCHS in an address, described the training programme as a special boost to healthcare delivery at the NCHS.

Saying that “you have a rare opportunity to learn” Mr. Adjei urged the trainees to be on top of their act, since their work was crucial in clinical diagnosis and the general health delivery.

He also thanked WACCBIP for their collaboration to train the Biomedical Scientists from the various Catholic Health Institutions.

Rev. Fr. Wisdom Larweh, Assistant Secretary General at the National Catholic Secretariat, in commending WACCBIP on behalf of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, urged Biomedical Scientists to recognise the objective truth in preserving the well-being and health of human beings in the discharge of their duties.

“The ultimate aim of every research activity in this field must be for the integral good of man” Fr. Lawerh stressed, noting that “efforts in biomedical research must fully respect every person's inalienable dignity, his right to life and his substantial physical integrity”.

He commended the efforts of thousands of doctors and researchers and particularly of the Department and WACCBIP, who, generously dedicated their energies daily in serving the suffering and in the treatment of pathologies.

He expressed the support of the Church in the efforts in biomedical science and to encourage worthy standards of health and life for the people.

Dr. Raphael Adu-Gyamfi, of the NCHS, in a presentation on Clinical Practice to Research: Diagnostic and Healthcare, called on Biomedical Scientists to work collaboratively with other diagnostic team to reduce diagnostic errors.

He said since the diagnostic testing plays a major role in the diagnostic process, which is at the heart of healthcare delivery, there was need for research which is key to reduce diagnostic errors and improving the diagnostic process.

Similarly, Mr. Victor Letsa, WACCBIP Fellow, stressed the essence for Biomedical Scientists to research, during his presentation on Clinical Practice to Research: Diagnostic and Healthcare.

The Workshop which brought together over 25 Biomedical Scientists from Catholic Health facilities across the country was aimed at improving the practitioners’ skills with latest trends in the Biomedical practices and how to effectively diagnose infections and research.

The workshop, the first between the University and the NHCS will be organised in two sessions: first session in January and the other in June for the trainees.

The WACCBIP was established in 2013, led by faculty from the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB) and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) at the University of Ghana, Legon.