BURUNDI – Africa CDC has enhanced molecular testing and sequencing capacities of the Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP) through comprehensive training of 32 technicians in sample management and referral, biosafety and biosecurity.
A total of 17 participants from 17provinces and 15 participants from 14 provinces participated in the sample management and referral and biosafety and biosecurity training.
The training covered practical procedures on the safe collection, handling, transporting, and storage of biological samples and guidelines on how to effectively refer samples to appropriate laboratories for testing and diagnosis.
Critical biosafety and biosecurity measures were also highlighted to protect healthcare workers and the community from potential exposure to infectious agents such as mpox.
Participants were also trained on biosecurity practices to prevent unauthorized access to samples and laboratory facilities.
This is critical for maintaining the quality and integrity of mpox samples for testing and characterization.
Participants were trained on biorisk management, risk assessment, bioethics, occupational health, prevention of laboratory-associated infections, IPC, and biological waste management for mpox and other infectious diseases.
One of the core capacities of IHR (2005) obligates Member States to establish mechanisms for providing reliable and timely laboratory identification and characterization of infectious agents, including shipment of specimens to appropriate laboratories.
The training and additional support by Africa CDC are instrumental in fulfilling the objectives of the IHR, particularly in the areas of detection, assessment, response, notification, and monitoring of health events.
“Our support to Burundi is in line with this continental initiative of strengthening laboratory systems for early warning surveillance, detection of outbreaks and mounting effective responses,” said Dr. Yenew Kebede Tebeje, Acting Director, Centre of Laboratory Diagnostics and Systems, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Africa CDC has also strengthened Burundi’s response to the ongoing mpox outbreak by donating critical equipment and materials.
The donation includes an Illumina MiniSeq sequencing system and reagents, a high-performance computer server, mpox qPCR testing kits, and other essential consumables. In addition, the INSP team has been trained on molecular testing, sequencing, and interpretation of results.
“These resources provided, and skills built, will enhance the country’s molecular testing and sequencing capabilities, enabling accurate and timely detection and characterization of mpox cases and boosting the national testing and pathogen detection capacity,” said Dr. Yenew Kebede.
Africa CDC is working with African Union Member States and partners to build multi-disease detection and sequencing capacity for early detection and better characterization of Africa’s priority diseases.
