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 National Coordinating Committee in Uganda Feb 2008
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The goal of the meeting was to:
1.Touch up several pertinent issues and to take stock as a Network by updating and briefing one another about where we are.
2.Use this opportunity to identify various areas of interest
3.Enhance our strengths and improve on weaknesses and
4.Create understanding of where we are heading.
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NEPAD/BeCA STAKEHOLDERS WORKSHOP ON TSETSE AND TRYPANOSOMIASIS (T&T) RESEARCH, ORGANIZED BY KARI-TRC AT THE SILVER SPRINGS HOTEL, NAIROBI, KENYA FROM 18-19 SEPTEMBER 2007
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Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BeCA), a NEPAD Initiative, together with the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute-Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC) organized a tsetse and trypanosomiasis stakeholders’ workshop to assess the current situation regarding T & T research in NEPAD member countries in order to identify gaps, suggest possible solutions and develop a business plan and strategy for enhancing research capacity. The workshop took place from 18-19 September, 2007 at the Silver Springs Hotel Nairobi, Kenya.
African scientists from the following countries attended the workshop: Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Kenya. The workshop was also attended by the BecANet Director, Dr Bruno Kubata; the secretary International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) of AU/IBAR, Mr Francis Oloo; the NEPAD representative, Prof Aggrey Ambali and the WHO/TDR HAT disease Coordinator, Dr Deborah Kioy. The meeting was officially opened by the Deputy Director, Research and Technology (DD R&T), KARI on behalf of the Director KARI and also the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya.
The government, through the speech read by Dr Mureithi, expressed delight that African scientists had come together to exchange views on how to improve tsetse and Trypanosomiasis research for effective control. The DD R&T, on behalf of the PS reminded participants that tsetse and trypanosomiasis menace posed a great challenge to the development of Africa and that elimination of the disease and its tsetse vector would be of major socio-economic benefit to the continent. He lauded the organizers of the workshop in bringing together scientists from NEPAD countries to develop a unified approach to T & T research and control. Dr. Kiome reiterated the commitment of the Kenyan government to regional networks and the role they play in capacity building and resource sharing. Since tsetse knew no boundaries, the best way to tackle the problem was through regional efforts.
However, the government voiced concern that local scientists did not have adequate access to the BeCA hub based at ILRI campus, and hence had difficulty appreciating ownership of the facility. DD R&T reiterated that the national agricultural systems (NARs) were expected to revamp the facility by utilizing it fully. However, this had not been the case due to limited access. Clear guidelines on ownership of the BeCA research facility needed to be put in place to ensure that the original vision of BeCA to provide research service to NARs scientists is adhered to.
In a speech read on his behalf by Mr. F. Oloo, Dr. Modibo Troure, Director AU/IBAR acknowledged that the task facing African scientists to improve welfare of the people by removing tsetse and Trypanosomiasis from the continent was enormous. Dr. Troure indicated that removing Trypanosomiasis constraint will contribute significantly towards realization of food security at household level. He further noted that control of trans-boundary diseases such as Trypanosomiasis required regional and international cooperation. This was the reason the Pan African regional projects such as FITCA and Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) had been born and implemented. Structures and resources left behind by such regional projects could be strengthened to meet the current challenges.
Dr. Deborah Kioy, who coordinates Trypanosomiasis Research at WHO/TDR, Geneva, thanked organizers of the workshop for inviting her to attend the workshop and serve as a facilitator. Noting that reports in literature still indicate the existence of 250 foci for human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), Dr. Kioy challenged participants to ponder on why the disease situation had not changed over a long period of time. She hypothesized that disease burden persists due to: inadequate economic resources, inadequate diagnosis, inadequate surveillance, few, toxic and expensive drugs, agro-ecological changes and lack of proper advocacy in disease endemic countries (DECs). The role of WHO/TDR in capacity strengthening for scientists in DECs was highlighted and participants challenged to take advantage of the same. Proper training of African scientists would help reverse the current situation whereby very few publications were coming from TDR-funded projects by DEC scientists.
BeCA Initiative was endorsed by the New Partnerships for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to support eastern and central African countries to develop and apply bioscience research and expertise to produce technologies that will empower poor farmers in order to protect their resources for improved productivity and incomes. For the goal and objectives of the initiative to be met, a group of cooperating institutions is being established. These facilities will be made available for regional use. Whereas the hub at ILRI provides a common biosciences research platform, research-related services and capacity building and training opportunities, the network nodes will carry out research on priority issues affecting Africa’s development. One of these priority areas is T&T.
Currently, KARI-TRC, with the institutional mandate to carry out research in T&T, hosts the secretariat of the Regional WHO/TDR HAT research capacity strengthening consortium, with a well established network of researchers in T&T research spread across the world. It was expected that through TRC leadership, the tsetse infested countries in the region would come together, consolidate their efforts in order to tackle the challenges posed by the vector and the disease in humans and livestock.
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IFS Workshop
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IFS Workshop Participants
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The IFS workshop was held from the 20th to the 25th of November 2006. 22 participants took part in the workshop all from African Countries. |
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This workshop was coordianted by a representative of IFS, Richard Hall and was run at the Hilton Hotel. Out of the 22 participants 18 were men and 4 were ladies. Two of the ladies were from the post conflict countries i.e. Uganda and Sudan. One Kenyan and One Zimbabwean. Three resource persons were instrumental in making the workshop a success. They were Dr. Richard Hall from International Foundation for Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, Dr. Edith Taleinik of the International Foundation for Sciences from Argentina and Dr. Elliot Ngugi of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute from Kenya.
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BecA/EMBO/TDR Workshop
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Prof. Kubata and participants in the workshop
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BecA hosted a workshop entitled "RNAi and reverse genetics in trypanosomes" from the 27th of November to the 15th of December 2006. It was a practical course on RNA interference and reverse genetics in trypanosomes |
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It was sponsored by the UNDP/World bank/WHO special programme for research and training in Tropical diseases, the EMBO World Programme, and Biosciences east and central Africa(BecA)
The course consisted of theory and practical modules, with some
bioinformatics. It was intended for students, post-docs, or independent investigators. The call was open for candidates in life sciences, agriculture and medicine who wish to enhance their knowledge of molecular biology and the use of trypanosomes as a model in their research, or a molecular parasitologist who needs to increase their knowledge of trypanosome reverse genetics.
The first week consisted a molecular biology course. Applicants with more molecular biology experience attended only the second two weeks
(Dec 4th - 15th). There was a weekend field trip.
There was no registration fee and travel support was available.
Faculty included: Prof. Christine Clayton, Heidelberg University, Germany, Dr. Dan
Masiga, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Dr. Enock Matovu, Makerere University,
Uganda;Dr. Sara Melville, Cambridge University, UK; Dr. Keith Matthews, Edinburgh
University, UK; Dr. Appolinaire Djikeng, TIGR, USA; Mr. Trushar Shah & Prof. Bruno Kubata, BecA, Nairobi,Kenya | |
Participants in the EMBO Workshop
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CIDA contribution to BecA
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On behalf of the BecA secretariat I would like to inform you that the Treasury Board of the Government of Canada has approved the remaining CAD $ 25 million of Canada's contribution to BecA for the Implementation Phase. This would not have been possible without your continuous support to BecA from inception to date
I hereby take this opportunity to thank each one of you, who has made it possible for BecA to achieve this approval.
We do appreciate your tireless efforts and participation whenever you were called upon to assist, despite having very busy schedules, and hope that this will continue to enable us make the NEPAD/African Biosciences iniative a reality in the continent.
Sincerely,
Bruno
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BecA in collaboration with UNIDO is pleased to announce a post graduate distance learning course in Biosafety in Plant Biotchnology... More...
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BecA Steering Committee meeting in December 2007 More...
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Appel a candidatures: Cours Interdisciplinaire en Biosecurite pour l’Afrique Francophone (2eme edition) More...
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Beca Nodes meeting in December 2007 More...
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Steering Committee Meeting Tentatively 12-13 May 2008 More...
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