Biosafety Experts, Stakeholders Seek Solutions to Global Health Challenges
…Calls for preventive mechanisms, viable health systems to tackle eventualities
By Alex Odeh
The 8th NIBSA conference brought together biosafety and biosecurity experts, stakeholders from the health sector, environment, security, and more to explore ways to address global health security challenges.
Held on 25th September,at the Women Development Centre in Abuja, the conference emphasized the need for preventive measures and viable health systems to tackle eventualities.
In a keynote address on “Advancing Global Health Security: Innovations in Biosafety and Biosecurity,” Prof. Jesse Uneke, Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, stressed that addressing global health security requires collective efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. He advocated for a shared responsibility, prevention, detection, prompt response, and multi-sectoral approach.
Prof. Uneke highlighted major risks to global health security, including infectious disease outbreaks, globalization, and drug-resistant pathogens. He emphasized the importance of biosafety and biosecurity, citing innovations like artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and rapid diagnostic technologies.
The Director Intelligence at the Defence Intelligence Agency, Abuja, Air Commodore Raymond C.Nwankwo, discussed “The Future of Bio-Integrated Security: Protecting People, Pathogens and Data,” emphasizing the convergence of biology, technology, and security. He recommended comprehensive risk assessments, precise inventory management, and biological safety cabinets.
NIBSA President Dr. Stella Ngozi Udo urged participants to approach the conference with determination to improve lives. Other speakers made presentations on subtheme one and two such as : Improving Preventive Medicine: Strategies for Hazard Reduction through Effective Waste Management by Dr.Chukwu Otuh Okoh Chukwu, while Ms Pamela Inkoba West discussed Strengthening Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity System in Africa, among others.
Also,Prof.Maxwell Nwachukwu Opara spoke on “Advancing Biosafety Practices in Research Development: Containment,Risk Assessment Personnel Training`, while an accomplished security and law Enforcement Professional,Sector Commander,IGP Special Taskforce on PIB(Nigeria Police Force) SP.Mohammed Sani Maishanu, lectured on “The One Health Approach to Biosafety and Biosecurity: Integrating Human, Animal and Environmental Health, among others.
The chairman of local organizing committee,Dr.Agha Ukpai Agha said that the theme of this year’s conference,was carefully chosen in recognition of the urgent need the challenges posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that continue to cause outbreaks and pandemics across the globe.
The conference featured technical sessions, goodwill messages from the SSGF,Sen. George Akume; Minister of Environment,Balarabe Abbas Lawal, and recommendations for effective leadership, robust disease surveillance, and policy implementation.
