Africa International Biomedical and Biotechnology Conference Workshop 2018

The Africa International Biotechnology and Biomedical Conference (AIBBC) Workshop 2018, held from August 6th to 17th in Nairobi, Kenya, showcased an impressive array of courses and symposiums focusing on capacity building for national sustainable development. The theme, “From Evidence Generation through Effective Lab Diagnosis and Disease Prediction Strategies to Effective Implementation of Findings,” set the stage for a two-week program that brought together experts, researchers, and professionals from diverse fields.

Overview of Tracks and Courses:
Track 1: Laboratory Diagnosis for Effective Disease Diagnosis and Clinical Data Generation
The first track addressed laboratory diagnosis in the context of antimicrobial stewardship and diagnostic stewardship, catering to medical doctors, pharmacists, laboratory technologists, and biomedical scientists. Courses included:

• Diagnostic Stewardship in Low Resource Settings
  • Instructors: Prof. Gunturu Revathi, Prof. Dr. Matilu Mwau, Prof. Kennedy Okeyo, Dr. Jacqueline Linnes, Prof. Achyut Sapkot, Dr. Eddy Odari
  • Topics: Point-of-care diagnostics, diagnostic pathways, bioinformatic tools, and practical components like microfluidics.
• Antimicrobial Stewardship in Low Resource Settings
  • Instructors: Prof. Dr. Lisa Saiman, Prof. Dr. Elaine Larson, Prof. Dr. Emily A. Rogena, Dr. Celestine Makobe
  • Topics: Infection prevention and control, evidence strategies, stewardship team dynamics, and practical discussions.
• Common Topics in Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Instructors: Prof. Gunturu Revathi, Prof. Dr. Lutz Guertler, Dr. Eddy Odari, Dr. Celestine Makobe
  • Topics: Behavioral change science, novel diagnostics, and the role of diagnostics in antibiotic prescribing.

Track 2: Climate Change and Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases
This track explored the operational aspects of climate health and mathematical modeling for early prediction of disease outbreaks. Courses included:

• Operational Side of Climate Health
  • Instructors: Prof. Dr. Madeleine C. Thomson, Dr. Solomon Nzioka, Dr. David Gikungu, Dr. Angel Munoz, Dr. Paulino Omay
  • Topics: Climate and health policy, climate impacts on health, and practical exercises using climate information.
• Mathematical Modeling of Diseases
  • Instructors: Dr. Nakul Chitnis, Dr. Jane Aduda, Dr. Felipe Cólon, Ana Menezes
  • Topics: Introduction to R language, working with climate information, and SEIR modeling.

Track 3: Translation of Evidence-Based Data into Policy and Programs (Implementation Research)
The third track focused on translating evidence-based data into policy and programs through implementation research. Courses included:

• Implementation Research
  • Instructors: Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi, Dr. Adugna Woyesa
  • Topics: Introduction to implementation research, quality improvement, dissemination research, and policy development.
    

Conclusion: The AIBBC Workshop 2018 provided a platform for interdisciplinary learning, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. Participants gained insights into the latest advancements in laboratory diagnostics, antimicrobial stewardship, climate health, and implementation research. The combination of lectures, practical sessions, and symposiums facilitated a holistic understanding of the complex interplay between biomedical sciences and sustainable development. The event’s success reflects the commitment of the organizers and participants to advancing healthcare and research in the region.