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. 2023 Jan-Jun;9(1):10-14.
doi: 10.14202/ijoh.2023.10-14. Epub 2023 Mar 27.

One Health epidemic preparedness: Biosafety quality improvement training in Nigeria

P M Davwar  1 , D P Luka  2 , D F Dami  3 , D D Pam  4 , C T Weldon  5 , A S Brocard  6 , S Paessler  5 , S C Weaver  5 , N Y Shehu  1
Affiliations

One Health epidemic preparedness: Biosafety quality improvement training in Nigeria

P M Davwar et al. Int J One Health. 2023 Jan-Jun.

Abstract

Background and aim: One of the key components of the One Health approach to epidemic preparedness is raising awareness and increasing the knowledge of emerging infectious diseases, prevention, and risk reduction. However, related research can involve significant risks to biosafety and biosecurity. For this purpose, we organized a multidisciplinary biosafety hands-on workshop to inform and increase the knowledge of infectious diseases and risk mitigation. This study aimed to describe the process and outcome of a hands-on biosafety training program using a One Health approach across a multidisciplinary and multi-specialty group in Nigeria.

Materials and methods: A face-to-face hands-on training for 48 participants was organized by the West African Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (WAC-EID) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, serving as a lead institution for the Nigeria project site. Topics covered included (1) an overview of the WAC-EID research; (2) overview of infection prevention and control; (3) safety in animal handling and restraint, sample collection, and processing; (4) safety in field studies including rodent, bird and bat handling; (5) safety practices in the collection of mosquito and other arthropod vectors; (6) personal protective equipment training (disinfection, donning and doffing); and (7) safety in sample collection, labeling, and transportation. The program was executed using a mixed method of slide presentations, practical hands-on sessions, and video demonstrations. Pre- and post-course evaluation assessments and evaluation measures were used to assess training.

Results: A total of 48 trainees participated in this training, with 12 (25%), 16 (33.3%), 14 (29.2%), 6 (12.5%) categorized as ornithology, entomology, mammalogy, and clinical interest groups, respectively. The pass rate for the pre-test was 29.4%, while for the post-test, it was 57.1%, or a 28% improvement. 88.6% of the trainees rated the training as relevant to them.

Conclusion: Didactic and hands-on biosafety training is relevant in this era of zoonotic epidemics and pandemic preparedness. During this training program, there was a clear demonstration of knowledge transfer that can change the current practices of participants and improve the safety of infectious diseases research.

Keywords: One Health; biological safety; biosafety; pandemic; training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure-1:
Figure-1:
Pie chart showing distribution of the different specialty groups represented among participants.
Figure-2:
Figure-2:
Bar Chart showing different institutions represented. NVRI: National Veterinary Research Institute, JUTH: Jos University Teaching Hospital, APLORI: AP Leventis Ornithological institute, UI: University of Ibadan, SUL: Lafia State University, Forestry: School of Forestry Jos, UNIJOS: University of Jos.
Figure-3:
Figure-3:
Percentage score for pre- and post- tests for each question.
Figure-4:
Figure-4:
Line graph showing the percentage improvement for each question from the pre- and post-test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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