A Basic Molecular Biology workshop was held by the Centre for Health Systems Strengthening (CfHSS) in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ghana Health Service. The Workshop was held at the Anita Hotel Kumasi from the 8^th-12^th February, 2021.

This workshop was aimed at refreshing, enhancing, and providing theoretical training for Public Health Laboratory staff in basic molecular biology and virology. This was achieved through face-to-face lecture-based engagement with resource persons predominantly from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR). Incorporating the knowledge acquired in the workshop will increase efficiency and effectiveness as well as ensure safety within the various laboratories.

The Workshop was attended by some staff of the Tamale Public Health Laboratory, SDA Hospital in Tamale, Karaga Hospital, Tamale Central and West Hospitals all in the Northern Region, Sekondi Public Health Laboratory and a representative from the Kumasi Public Health Laboratory in the Western and Ashanti Regions, respectively.

Resource persons for this workshop included:

• Dr. Kofi Bonney – Senior Research Fellow, NMIMR, University of Ghana, Accra.
• Dr. Augustina Sylverken – Senior Lecturer, Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, KNUST, Kumasi; and Research Fellow at KCCR, KNUST, Kumasi.
• Dr. Samuel Asamoah Sakyi – Senior Lecturer, Department of Molecular Medicine, KNUST, Kumasi.
• Dr. Christian Obirikorang – Senior Lecturer, Department of Molecular Medicine, KNUST, Kumasi.
• Dr. Gifty Boateng – Head, National Public Head and Reference Laboratory, Accra.

Meet our Resource Persons (Facilitators)

Participants were taken through course modules such as Good Clinical Laboratory Practices, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Introduction to Molecular Genetics (Genomics and Proteomics), General Virology and Human Coronaviruses, Genomics DNA/RNA Extraction from Clinical Specimen, and Diagnosis of Human Coronaviruses.

Participants were evaluated before the start of the workshop (Pre-test) and after the completion of the workshop (Post-test). At the end of each module, participants were also assessed.

Certificates accredited by Allied Health Professions Council for 10 CPD points were presented to all participants at the end of the workshop. The presentation was done by Dr. Gifty Boateng, Head of, National Public Health Reference Laboratory.  Copies of the Biosafety Manual (WHO, 4th Edition, 2020) were distributed to the various laboratories to enable them to have a reference for Biosafety-related problems.

Closing remarks were given by Dr. Michael Owusu, Executive Director, CfHSS. He appreciated the partners and participants for making the training an impactful one and advised all present to share the knowledge received with their colleagues at their various work stations. A total of 17 individuals from the various Public health Labs were recorded as fully participating during the training.

More photos of the workshop can be seen in our gallery.