Expert en formation dans le domaine de la santé animale, M. Okot Bwangamoi, fonctionnaire auprès du Ministère ougandais de la santé, a effectué une mission de cinq mois en Érythrée dans le cadre du Programme des experts en CTPD/CTPT. Au cours de sa mission, il a partagé ses connaissances techniques et son expérience avec le personnel enseignant et les étudiants de l'Université d'Asmara. Il a par ailleurs aidé le Ministère érythréen de l'agriculture à planifier la mise en place d'un nouveau laboratoire de pathologie. Cette mission est une parfaite illustration du profit qu'un pays africain peut tirer de l'expérience acquise par un scientifique réputé d'un pays en développement dans le cadre du programme de la FAO.
Okot Bwangamoi un experto de capacitación en sanidad animal del Ministerio ugandés de Sanidad realizó una misión de cinco meses de duración en Eritrea en el Programa de expertos CTPD/CTPT. Durante su misión, el Dr. Bwangamoi compartió sus conocimientos técnicos y experiencias con personal y alumnos de la Universidad de Asmara. También prestó su asistencia al Ministerio de Agricultura de Eritrea para organizar un nuevo laboratorio de patología. Esta misión sirve de ejemplo clásico de cómo el caudal de experiencias acumuladas por un científico famoso de un país en desarrollo de África ha servido de provecho a otro Estado africano a través del programa de la FAO.
Animal Health Training Expert Okot Bwangamoi, from the Ugandan Ministry of Health, undertook a five-month mission to Eritrea under the TCDC/TCCT Experts Programme. During his mission he shared his technical knowledge and expertise with staff and students at the University of Asmara. He also assisted the Eritrean Ministry of Agriculture in the planning of a new pathology laboratory. His assignment is a classic example of how the wealth of experience accumulated by a well-known scientist from a developing country in Africa has benefited another African state through the FAO programme.
The Horn of Africa, in general, and Eritrea, in particular, are major producers of animals and animal products. With a human population of 3 million, Eritrea also has a sizeable cattle population (1.6 million animals) as well as a substantial number of small ruminants (2 million animals). There are only about 20 qualified veterinarians in the entire country, supported by about 340 animal health assistants. The national animal herd represents a precious resource for Eritrea, and more animal health personnel need to be trained to care for it and protect it against the various serious animal diseases that are present in the region.
During the first three months of his mission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Bwangamoi developed and taught a course in Veterinary Microbiology to animal health assistants at the University's Health Training Centre in Villaggio, Asmara. Microbiology is a crucial area in veterinary medicine as it studies almost all microscopic disease agents, the most important of which are bacteria and viruses. The course covered the two major areas of microbiology: virology (the study of viruses) and bacteriology (the study of bacteria).
The virology component included a review of basic virology, entry and multiplication of viruses in hosts' cells, the type of damage induced in cells by viruses and how the host's immune system responds to virus assault, and immunization against viral diseases. The course dealt with the classification of DNA viruses, including those that cause diseases in domestic animals such as Aujeszky's disease or pseudorabies, primarily a disease of swine (only sporadic in cattle), and malignant catarrhal fever in cattle. It also covered RNA viruses such as rinderpest (cattle plague), foot-and-mouth disease and rabies.
The course's bacteriology component took students through introductory bacteriology and mycology (the study of fungal organisms responsible for animal diseases), and the structure and classification of majorbacteria of veterinary importance. Students became familiar with the agents of many endemic diseases affecting cattle in the Horn of Africa, including tuberculosis, brucellosis, anthrax and mastitis.
For the last two months of his mission, Bwangamoi was attached to the Diagnostic and Research Laboratory Unit of the Veterinary Department, where he capitalized on his extensive experience in the field of veterinary science to devise a blueprint for a new pathology laboratory. This was accomplished by assessing the existing facilities, preparing a comprehensive staffing plan and advising the department on the buildings and equipment that would be needed for the future laboratory.