The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana, in collaboration with Disease Elimination and Eradication Course (DEEC) has begun an eight-day training on global disease eradication. The training opened with a short ceremony held at the Institute on 24th June 2024.
The course, organized under the auspices of the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) and in partnership with the NMIMR and the Carter Center and the University of Global Health Equity, aims to provide participants with insights into infectious disease eradication through innovative research, strategic partnerships, and effective implementation methods.
The current cohort consists of thirty-one (31) Health Professionals from seven (7) teams representing nine countries, with Pakistan being the only non-African country. Previously held only in Abu Dhabi, this year’s course is being run concurrently in Ghana and in Rwanda.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of NMIMR, Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, highlighted the background of how NMIMR was selected for the course and described the role of the Institute in this collaboration.
She said, “The Institute was approached by the Global Institute for Disease Elimination to conduct this training program. I then asked the Head of Epidemiology Department to mediate, which he did very well. He has been to Abu Dhabi, as the course was initially hosted there. Now they want to include African countries, so it is being held in Ghana and Rwanda, with Ghana’s sessions at the Institute.. The NMIMR provides facilitators like Professor Boakye and Professor Ahorlu, who have both been to Abu Dhabi. Based on the work we do in disease eradication and elimination, we have qualified facilitators.”
The technical Director of GLIDE, Dr. Ngozi Erondu expressed her excitement about the collaboration with the NMIMR and emphasized on the course’s objectives.
“We are pleased to be here in Ghana at the Noguchi Institute to host the Disease Elimination and Eradication course. This is our third year doing this, in partnership with the Noguchi Institute and the Carter Center. The course aims to equip program managers working in neglected tropical diseases and malaria with the skills, knowledge, and information necessary for disease elimination and eradication. Many participants have long worked in these fields but have never thoroughly examined the obstacles and facilitators to eliminating disease.”
Prof. Collins Ahorlu, Head of Epidemiology Department at NMIMR and the lead facilitator of the course, underscored the relevance of this multi-module course in enhancing the capacity of health professionals in the sub-region.
He said, the course is very integrated and prepares disease elimination program managers and workers to think systemically, not just focusing on disease-specific programs but considering the interconnected relationships within the program and other activities.
The Disease Elimination and Eradication course is funded by the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE).
The course will continue at the Institute and end on July 3, 2024.