Karachi: Biosafety and biosecurity training workshops for the control, prevention and mitigation of infectious diseases is crucial and the need-of-the-hour, especially in developing countries like Pakistan”, recognizing these ideals, health experts addressed a two-day “Biosafety and Biosecurity training” workshop for health workers in tuberculosis laboratories across Sindh.
The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Communicable Diseases Control (CDC Sindh), Dow University of Health Sciences, and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) at the Ojha Campus.
The workshop saw the participation of individuals from different regions of Sindh, holding vital responsibilities in Biosafety and Biosecurity. Lab workers from various governmental and non-governmental educational institutions, including BSL-2 Lab in Sukkur, ICRC in Jamshoro, TB Hospital in Khairpur, PRL Sindh and Indus Hospital in Karachi, and 40 laboratory workers, attended the workshop. During the workshop, the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was also demonstrated for biological agents during duty.
The first-day training was conducted by facilitators Prof. Dr. Saima Saleem and Dr. Maria Zahid, who focused on Biosafety measures, Human Risk Factors, and primary control of Biosecurity. This was followed by hands-on practice for wearing personnel protective equipment (PPEs) while handling the biological agents.
The second day was concluded with lectures by Dr. Furqan Kabir and Dr. Aneeta Howtani on good laboratory practices, lab quality management system, infection prevention, sample transportation, and packaging. Another hands-on training was organized for proper procedures while working on biosafety cabinet and injury management, including needle stick injury and protocols of BSL-III labs. The workshop was concluded with a certificate and shield distribution ceremony among participants, with closing remarks given by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of DUHS, Prof. Dr. Nighat Nisar. The training received high praise from the chairing committee and participants alike and proved beneficial for instilling the finest practices among participants for TB prevention and waste management.
