Paul Okemo. CEO, AfBSA
Started, in 2007 This was a UN "Biosafety and Biosecurity Laboratory Awareness Raising Meeting," for Anglophone Countries in Nairobi, Kenya, 28-31 May 2007. 23 Countries attended
AfBSA Logo Website: www.afbsa.org; E-mail: afbsa@afbsa.org
OBJECTIVES To bring together practitioners of Biological safety To promote safe use of living, MLOs and their products To prevent/reduce non-intended exposure and guard against misuse To facilitate sharing of Biosafety and Biosecurity information in Africa
IN RESPONSE TO THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL Which was an International agreement in 2000 To ensure safe handling Safe transportation And Safe use of Living Modified organisms (LMOs) Resulting from modern Biotechnology To avoid having effects on Biological diversity
CARTAGENA PROTOCOL CONT. The protocol was entered into force in 2003 The latest ratification was in 2015 in Co`te Divoire Handling is addressed in Article 18 of the protocol Transport and packaging are addressed in paragraph 1 of Article 18
CAPACITY BUILDING This is addressed in Article 22 of the protocol Requires appropriate Institutional infrastructure Well trained human resources Adequate funding Access to relevant information Access to other types of capacities
To build capacity another Biosafety and Biosecurity Workshop for Francophone Countries-September 2008 A similar meeting for participants drawn from 25 Francophone countries held at the same venue in September 2008 endorsed the formation of the Association. The 23 countries included Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cap Verde, Cameroun, Central Africa Republic, Chad Comoros, Congo, Congo (DRC), Cote D'ivoire, Guinea, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Senegal and Togo.
FOUNDATION OF AfBSA The foundation of AfBSA was laid down by the first Council headed by Dr. Willy Tonui He handed over leadership to Abila Tubi Who has now handed it to Dr. Artef El Gendy of Egypt
Council members Abiola Tubi, Nigeria: Vice- President Atef El-Gendy, Egypt Mahama Toure, Cotre D Voire: Treasurer Juliana Kinkese,, Zambia: Secretary
Council members Thiogane Yaya: Senegal west Africa Mr Methode Niyoyunguruza, Burundi: eastern Africa Mrs Alina Munkawa, Namibia southern Africa Nabila Seridi, Algeria: North Africa Fayiz Mahamat: Chad Central Africa
ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS OF AfBSA To enable AfBSA to be truly regional Africa has been divided into five regions namely: Western, Northern, Central, East and Southern Africa. Each region has several countries under the respective region.
ACHIEVEMENTS OF AfBSA
IMPLIMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLANS Completed implementation of our strategic plan 2007-2010 (Setting up stractures) Implemented strategic plan 2011-2013 (Capacity Building) Are on the plan for 2014-2017 and also in the process of looking at the lessons learnt to help formulate the next strategic plan (Capacity and advocacy)
CAPACITY BUILDING IN AFRICA
TRAINER OF TRAINERS COURSE IN AFRICA WORKING SAFELY AND SECURITY WITHIN BSL-2 LABORATORIES MARCH 9-13, 2009 SILVERSPRINGS HOTEL, NAIROBI, KENYA
1 st AfBSA Annual Conference, March 8-12, 2010, Nairobi, Kenya
LABORATORY BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY WORKSHOP AT AZALAI HOTEL, BAMAKO, MALI FROM OCTOBER 18-22, 2010
2 nd AfBSA Conference March 7-10, 2011, Accra Ghana
AfBSA TRAINING FOR LAB CIRTIFICATION AT HILTON NAIROBI- JUNE 2014
AfBSA TRAINING FOR MOBOLIZATION OF FUNDS AUG. 2015 AT SILVERSPRINGS HOTEL-NAIROBI
COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS
AfBSA Supports the Africa Centre for Integrated Laboratory Training Course (ACILT) held twice a year in Johannesburg, South Africa Course held twice a year in July and December
AfBSA Support UN 1540 efforts in Africa Africa Regional Workshop on Biosafety and Biosecurity February 2-4, 2010, Nairobi (Kenya)
AfBSA supporting WHO Strategic Plan
COLLABORATION WITH OTHERS EBSA IFBA AfBSA A-PBA ABSA
AfBSA Membership Membership drawn from ALL Countries of Africa and worldwide. The association is open to anyone, including Students, Senior professionals, Corporate and disciplines as diverse as healthcare, academia, emergency response, pharmaceutical/ biotechnology industries and regulatory affairs.
WAY FORWARD To continue with membership recruitment drive Strengthen Institutional skills and Networking of Biosafety and Biosecurity Provide members with opportunities for information sharing, public education and Biosafety advocacy To provide opportunities for development of standards, guidelines and regulations in Biosafety Create awareness for safe working conditions
Contacts & Registrations www.afbsa.org E-mail: afbsa@afbsa.org Admin@afbsa.org Mailing lists: afbsamailinglist@afbsa.org osh@afbsa.org
Thank You