As part of the BU-LABNET activities for 2022, a planned technical mission to network countries by expert panel members was organized on Wednesday the 18th of May, 2022 from 1:30pm to 4:00pm with the aim to undertake laboratory evaluations.
This report provides updates on the technical mission to the MOSILAB located at the Biochemistry Department of the University of Ghana which also houses the West Africa Centre for Cell Biology and Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP).MOSILAB inclusion into the BU-LABNET network makes them one of the three World Health Organization (WHO) Buruli ulcer certified diagnostic centers in Ghana.
Dr. Sundeep Chaitanya, a Director of Research and Innovation at the American leprosy Missions, USA and also a Senior Research Associate in structural Biology and Biocomputing group at the University of Cambridge was the technical expert who led the two member technical team with a colleague Miss Victoria Monge also of American Leprosy Mission in Accra Ghana.
The meeting with Dr. Chaitanya and his colleague (Victoria) commenced with Dr. Lydia Mosi, Principal Investigator for the Mosi Lab introducing her research followed by a brief overview of the groups research and diagnostic activities. Mrs Mabel Sarpong Duah continued the presentation describing some of the lesions observed during field sample collection activities and the various laboratory tests performed on the suspected BU lesions. Dr. Mosi concluded the presentation highlighting the number of BU cases identified, key field partners and the approach used to get cases.
A boardroom meeting between MOSILAB and BU-LABNET representatives
Dr. Mosi and Dr. Chaitanya had further discussions after the presentations on some of the prospects and opportunities available for BU-LABNET members.
Subsequently, Dr. Mosi took the visitors on a facility tour to showcase the various laboratories and equipment available at WACCBIP. Dr. Chaitanya finally evaluated Mosi Lab’s activities within the Bu-LABNET. Finally, Mrs. Mabel took them though the various Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), different equipment used for diagnosing BU ulcer and the general management of the lab.
Representatives of MOSILAB and BU-LABNET in a group photo.
The technical mission ended after this, and the visiting team provided their preliminary impression as satisfactory and thanked the Mosi Lab for warm reception and fruitful engagement.
