Approach
As part of the Biosecurity practices project, biosecure sampling of livestock and sample submission of hazardous animal infections will be strengthened and institutionalized from field to national reference laboratory, and, as applicable, submission to international reference laboratories in different target countries by targeted training of trainers ina sustainable training approach.
The focus of this project is on hazardous zoonotic diseases such as Anthrax, Brucella, Rabies, Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Q-fever and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
The target groups are staff from national and regional laboratories usually veterinary laboratores, involved in biosecure sampling of livestock and sample submission of hazardous animal infections.
At the national reference laboratory, staff will be trained to handle, test, archive and forward relevant samples to international reference laboratories. In addition, staff will be trained to instruct regional specialists in animal disease surveillance how to sample animals suspected of hazardous diseases in the field, and how to submit these samples of hazardous animal infections in a standardized manner respecting the basic principles of biosecurity to national reference labs.
The training consists of blended learning: classroom trainings, interactive workshops, laboratory demonstrations, and field demonstrations and exercises delivered in two tiers.
The training consists of trainings at national (central) level in a first tier, and at regional level, in a second tier. In the first tier, international experts will train a selection of persons from the field and the laboratories (combination of national and regional laboratories) on the subject matter and on training methodologies. To extend the reach of this project, cascade training (second tier) is incorporated using the train-the-trainer model, so that trained experts are equipped how to train their peers in the country. In the second tier, cascade training by people trained in the first tier is supported to extend the reach of this project to a larger number of veterinary para-professionals and laboratory staff in the regions.
An e-learning environment is used to be used by international trainers to train and provide post-training consultancy, and by regional trainers for training of their national field veterinary staff and laboratory staff. The selected regional trainers will then be able to train on their account in their countries veterinary specialists and local farmers in animal disease surveillance to recognize, sample and submit samples of hazardous animal infections in a standardized manner respecting the basic principles of biosecurity.
Following this train-the-trainer approach, the project delivers in each country several experts equipped with skills and materials to conduct similar trainings in the country to reach all relevant staff from regional laboratories in their native language.