A scholar from the Global Health Infectious Disease Institute (GHIDI) at NSUK was recently nominated to attend a high-impact workshop on the Laboratory Diagnosis of Diphtheria and Pertussis in Cyprus.
The workshop was a collaborative effort organized by the UKHSA IHR Global Health Strengthening Program and the World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the European University School of Medicine, Cyprus.
The primary goal of the workshop was to strengthen participants’ skills and build capacity in the surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of Diphtheria and Pertussis. This is particularly critical as Nigeria is currently grappling with a Diphtheria outbreak.
The NSUK scholar and colleagues used this platform to;
Discuss the current status of the Nigerian Diphtheria outbreak, including existing gaps and strengths.
Be inducted into a Diphtheria network for the Africa region, alongside participants from Ethiopia and Slovakia. Be introduced to a novel molecular assay using a direct clinical sample for RT-PCR.
The training emphasized the need for a continuous approach to strengthening surveillance for both infections, further placing GHIDI-NSUK on the global map as a key contributor to infectious disease control.
Nasarawa State University, Keffi.