National laboratory directors and quality assurance managers from the five English speaking West African Countries (Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) are currently participating in the training, which commenced Monday at the conference hall of the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi. The training is expected to look into the epizootic of H5N1 Avian Influenza crisis, which began in 2003 in South Asia and reached Africa in 2006. The crisis has negatively affected the sustainability of the livelihood of many communities and endangered public health worldwide.

In his opening remarks, Sheriffo Bojang, the deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture said avian influenza poses a real threat to the lives and livelihood of millions of people around the world as well as their economy and health. Cognizant of this, he said The Gambia has strongly committed herself to harmonise and coordinate multidisciplinary and partnership approaches as the best and effective ways in dealing with the disease.

Gambia's hosting of the first and second regional training, Bojang said, are testimonies to the Gambia government’s commitment to the partnership approach in dealing with avian influenza and other trans-boundary animal diseases. He explained that the organisation of the training will help improve the structural and operational capacity of the region’s veterinary services to effectively deal with avian influenza and its related diseases, particularly in the area of laboratory diagnosis.

DPS Bojang told the gathering that avian influenza has not been reported in The Gambia yet but has been reported in eleven African countries, most of which are in the West African sub-region. However, he pointed out that active surveillance for the disease is currently ongoing in The Gambia and other countries in the sub-region. He then used the platform to thank FAO, USAID and other partners for supporting the facilitating and funding of the training.

Cindy Gregg, the charge de Affairs at United States Banjul Embassy said improving management practices, testing and quality control is key in the fight against avian influenza and other trans-boundary diseases. She told participants that as the first line of defence, the veterinary diagnostic laboratories that will be discussed during the training would ultimately determine the region’s success in disease prevention. She further observed that in today’s world of interrupted global travel and trade, it is in the people’s mutual interest to work together to strengthen diagnostic capacity. While reiterating her embassy’s readiness to facilitate any future endeavours, Gregg expressed hope that participants will effectively benefit from the training.

Dr Babagana Ahmadu, the FAO representative in The Gambia stated that the incursion of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in Africa in early 2006 has attracted the attention of the international community on the African continent’s veterinary services weaknesses and laid the foundation for the launching of the network of Western and Central African veterinary diagnostic laboratories for avian influenza and other trans-boundary animal diseases. 

He explained that the training is intended to improve the methodology and skills of the participants for the translation of the recommendations of ISO 17025 standards into a documentation system adopted. Dr Ahmadu further told the gathering that the production and management of documents and records are essential elements of any quality system as they are reflections of the laboratory’s organisation and the quality of its management. While thanking USAID and all the implementing partners for making the training a success, he equally thanked the government and people of The Gambia for creating the enabling environment for FAO to operate.