In a bid to enhance knowledge and understanding of fungal infections and foster interdisciplinary collaboration that addresses significant healthcare challenges in Africa, an intensive training on Invasive Fungal Infections commenced at the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba campus on Monday, January 8, 2024.
Organized by the Pan African Mycology Working Group (PAMWG) in collaboration with the Medical Mycology Society of Nigeria (MMSN) and Nigerian Fungal Disease Surveillance and Capacity Building (NIFUSCAB), the training programme has participants drawn from across Africa at the Mycology Reference Laboratory, Telemedicine Centre and Training Hub, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, (UNILAG), Nigeria.
Speaking at the Programme’s Opening Ceremony, the Convener and Associate Professor at the Department of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, UNILAG, Dr. Rita Oladele welcomed the participants and highlighted the objectives of the workshop.
Dr. Oladele who is also the President of Medical Mycology Society of Nigeria (MMSN) identified the high burden of fungal infections as a common cause of death among many African patients.
In her words, “Africa is endemic for several fungi infections that kill almost the same number of people as Tuberculosis and Malaria. However, almost nobody knows anything about them as there is that lack of knowledge.
According to the renowned mycologist and educator, it is on the account of this deficit, that the PAMWG organizes trainings for African clinicians, microbiologists, scientists, pharmacists and technicians into a Working Group, in order to provide a better interaction and synergy among regional leaders to develop educational programs, aid in the diagnosis and care of patients with fungal infections in Africa.
“Over the years, we have been able to drive awareness about invasive fungal infection. It was slow, gradual but definitely, we have made progress with respect to saving lots of lives. Now we think it’s time to reproduce this success with Nigeria. We will build capacity and get them materials to simulate just the way they have been taught”.
In her remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Academics and Research), Professor Bola Oboh underscored the importance of the training.
While assuring participants of the Vice-Chancellor’s best wishes, the Professor of Genetics acknowledged the work being done by the PAMWG. Her words: “I am impressed with the level of effort that you put in place to impact society. We will always support this kind of workshop here at the University of Lagos. If we are going to move our University forward, I believe that we will have to create a springboard where mindsets will have to change to make things better”.
She urged participants to use the platform as an avenue for knowledge exchange, skill enhancement, and professional networking with valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of fungal diseases.
The PAMWG is an International Society for Human, Animal Mycology (ISHAM) working group composed of health-care professionals involved with mycology devoted to the understanding, diagnosis, and management of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), as well as the collation of fungal surveillance data for best outcomes of patients at risk of, or who are diagnosed with fungal infections in Africa.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Micheal Ogooluwa Joshua
