NIGERIA – The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has hosted a series of theoretical and hands-on training on real-time PCR-based monkeypox virus (MPXV) diagnosis held at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory in Abuja.
The training workshop will help build and expand MPXV testing capacity and capability across Africa since laboratory testing capacity is crucial in strengthening MPXV surveillance in endemic and non-endemic countries across the continent.
The training exercise comes at a time when establishing diagnostic capacity for infectious diseases including for monkeypox virus is an essential first step in gaining the understanding required for preparedness and response.
Nigeria’s national public health institute worked closely with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) to train 20 Member states of the African Union (AU) on monkeypox virus diagnostics from 28th June – 30th June 2022.
Monkeypox remains a public health emergency in affected African countries, and is a high risk pathogen for other neighboring countries.
The three-day training workshop focused on a combination of theoretical and hands-on training in the collection and handling of MPXV suspected specimen, isolation of nucleic acid, detection of MPXV using RT-PCR assay along with interpretation and reporting of results for public health interventions.
Subsequently, the training coordinated and supported through the Africa CDC – Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI) covering a range of topics from collection and handling of specimen to RT-PCR testing and reporting of results will help inform response and containment strategies.
The participants are expected to put into practice the skills and knowledge gained from this training to expand MPXV testing and surveillance in their home country in an effort to create a network of laboratory experts to collaborate and share expertise and resources in MPXV detection and response.
The training workshop targeted 20 participants from 20 A Member States namely Benin, Chad, Cote d’Ivore, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinéa, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
The Africa CDC further partnered with Jiangsu Bioperfectus Technologies Co., Ltd. To facilitate the distribution of MPXV RT-PCR kits to expand testing in participating Member States as well as support a more comprehensive assessment of the public health risk.
Acting Director of the Africa CDC Dr. Ahmed Ogwell stated that the agency has issued a call for more support to Member States and increased access to diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines to limit the spread of MPXV.
The continental public health agency reaffirmed its commitment to monitor the situation of monkeypox on the continent and globally along with strengthening AU Member States capacity and capability to detect and respond to disease outbreaks.
“Africa CDC will continue to support Member States in strengthening their capacity and capability to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. The MPXV training and the distribution of test kits is key to expand MPXV surveillance across the continent,” Dr. Ahmed Ogwell noted.
Head Division of Laboratory Systems and Networks at the Africa CDC Dr. Yenew Kebede assured that the specialized public health institution will continue to organize additional trainings and distribute testing kits to additional African Member States in order to strengthen MPXV surveillance in the continent.
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