Mbale, 16th May 2016 - The Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a three-day regional training on sample collection, packaging and transportation of dangerous pathogens at Crown Suits Hotel in Mbale District. 

The training attracted participants from the districts of Mbale, Bulambuli, Busia, Sironko, Manafwa, Tororo and Kapchorwa, who included District Surveillance Focal Persons (DSFPs), District Laboratory Focal Persons DLFPs), Hub Coordinators (HC), Post Managers (PMs), Bio-safety Officers and Laboratory Technicians (LTs).

The purpose of the training was to build capacity among frontline health workers and post office staff in safe and quality handling of dangerous pathogen samples in transit and laboratory polio containment.

While conducting the training, Mr. Lali William the WHO National Professional Officer for Laboratory called upon the participants to use their newly acquired skills when collecting, packaging and transporting sample especially during outbreaks and other scenarios. He added that the ability to refer good quality sample confirmation is important to rapid control of disease outbreaks and rollout of health programmes.

During outbreaks, infectious samples that may contain dangerous pathogens are referred to higher laboratories for further processing and confirmation. In that way, samples of diseases of public health importance are also referred to more advanced laboratories. Although there are other sample transportation platforms, the main one through which these infectious samples are transported is the national laboratory hub system.

The core competencies required in management of such potentially dangerous samples include the knowledge of effective hub functionality and operations, sample collection, packaging and transportation conditions using the national regulatory requirements. It is also important that packaging of infectious samples minimize cross contamination, and loss of sample quality during transportation.

Mr. Patrick Madaya, the Mbale District Surveillance Focal Person (DSFP) appreciated the importance   and timeliness of the training in the region noting that the training had provided refresher knowledge and current information on sample packaging, collection and treatment especially during outbreaks. 

The training concluded with a demonstration on donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and a demonstration on the collection and packaging of highly infectious samples during an outbreak.

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For more information, please contact:

Mwebembezi Edmond, Public Information Officer, Tel: +256 414 335569, Cell: +256 782 962674, Email:mwebembezie [at] who.int

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Below:

01. Mr. Lali William (WHO jacket) takes the participants through the right procedure of wearing Personal Protective Equipment during outbreaks 

02 Mr. Lali William from WCO Uganda conducts the training in Mbale