On 3^rd October 2019, CoVAB administration together with representatives from the College’s partner organizations convened to brainstorm ideas on how to further develop the Center for Biosecurity and Global Health in Africa (CEBIGHA).

College Staff Members while in a meeting at the college E- board room discussing the development of the Center for Biosecurity and Global Health at the college.

The meeting which was held in the College E- Board room was chaired by the Principal, Prof. John David Kabasa. Partakers in this convention had an opportunity to hear from a Distinguished Professor from Michigan State University (MSU), Prof. John B. Kaneene, who is also a founding member and Director of the Center for Comparative Epidemiology at MSU.

Prof. Kaneene highlighted on the strategic importance of establishing a Biosecurity and Global Health Center at Makerere University, indicating that the Center is strategically located right at the heart of the Congo Basin, which is one of the major reservoir for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases of animal and human importance.

Prof John B. Kanene Director of the Michigan State University Center for Comparative Epidemiology addressing college staff on how to develop the center for Biosecurity and Global Health at Makerere University college of Veterinary Medicine.

In addition, Prof. Kaneene affirmed that Makerere University suits the establishment of the Center since it’s a full university which can facilitate effective communication and discussions among researchers and students about the development of the facility.

While highlighting on the efficient and safe running of the Center, he emphasized that the center has to be interdisciplinary with a very specific and dynamic mission and its budget must have a strong base.

He pointed out the requirement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which should be stationed in every section to guide everyone working and visitors to the center. He further affirmed the requirement of qualified senior motivated staff for the center, putting his emphasis on IT experts who are vital in data management. 

On concluding his remarks, emphasis was drawn towards the need for monitoring the approach used in the laboratory to address a certain issue, evaluating the outcome and learning from experiences, which Prof. Kaneene abridged as ‘MEL’. 

This meeting brought together scientists, researchers, lectures and administrators from Uganda Veterinary Association, National Drug Authority, Center for Tick and Tick-borne Diseases- Malawi, Michigan State University, Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), and CoVAB among others. 

It should be remembered that the establishment of CEBIGHA at CoVAB stemmed from the Presidential initiative to provide strategic service and research to government, the country and region at large to protect cross- border trade, animal agriculture, tourism and public health systems from biothreats originating from the animal world.