The World Health Organization is supporting a five day theoretical and bench training of laboratory scientists and technologists on identification of bacterial pathogens, at the Central Public Health Reference Laboratory (CPHRL) in Freetown.
Participants were drawn from the CPHRL, main referral hospitals and regional laboratories in the country. The objectives of the training are to strengthen the capacity of the staff on laboratory isolation, identification and characterization of causative agents of bacterial meningitis and enteric diseases, and to conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Delivering the opening remarks, Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu WHO Representative in Sierra Leone, said the training will set the pace to ensure that the bacteriology laboratory is fully functional. He further encouraged the participants to see the training as an opportunity to build their capacity.

Dr Alemu also handed over a consignment of reagents and supplies for the diagnosis and antibiogram of meningitis and enteric diseases including cholera, to Prof Sahr Gevao, Manager of the laboratory services in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The donation was provided by WHO and the GOARN’s partner agency International Cholera and Diorrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDRB).

Dr Denis Kandolo from WHO Inter-country Support Team for West Africa and Dr Mohamed Sirajul Islam from ICDDRB are the facilitators of the workshop. Dr Islam is in the country to assist in the cholera response activities.

The training is designed to be participatory with plenary and practical sessions with demonstrations, presentations and discussions. The experts will also provide technical assistance to the CPHRL to develop a Standard Operating Procedures for meningitis and enteric diseases and a long term plan for bacteriology laboratory. The training is part of WHO action for strengthening disease surveillance and Response in the African Region and to ensure Quality Assurance in selected Member States.

The training workshop will run from 10-14 September 2012.

The CPHRL was established by the Ministry of Health with the support of WHO, UNICEF, CDC and the Global Funds for HIV/AIDS , Tuberculosis and Malaria. It was commissioned in August 2012.

Training on Laboratory Identification of Bacterial Pathogens commences at CPHRL

For More Information contact:

World Health Organization, 21 A and B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road, Freetown

Phone : 232-22-233565 , +232-76-77787

e-mail: whosl [at] sl.afro.who.int

Website www.whosierraleone.org