The School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has secured a competitive $75,000 grant from the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology – Africa Network and the African Capacity Building Foundation to enhance the training of veterinary parasitologists in genomics and epidemiology.
The funding will support SVM/KNUST and its partners, Ajisefini Consulting and Inqaba Biotec, to develop a certified short-course curriculum aimed at training at least 40 veterinary parasitologists across West Africa over an 18-month period.
The programme seeks to strengthen sub-regional genomic surveillance of veterinary parasites and translate molecular evidence into actionable policies for parasite control and resistance management.
The Project lead, Dr. Jubin Osei-Mensah, described the initiative as a timely intervention to address critical capacity gaps in an often-neglected field.
“It will enable us to provide much-needed training in genomics and epidemiology in the often-neglected area of veterinary parasitology, generate concrete evidence on the nature and status of veterinary parasites affecting animals, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues across institutions,” he said.
Beyond the training component, the grant will support capacity building in molecular diagnostic techniques and the interpretation of genomic surveillance data, with expected long-term benefits for the region.
These include strengthening expertise in molecular diagnostics and bioinformatics, enhancing surveillance systems for veterinary parasites, and improving strategies for control and resistance monitoring.
The project team includes Dr. Jubin Osei-Mensah as lead, Prof. Benjamin O. Emikpe as academic mentor, Dr. Ayodele O. Majekodunmi of Ajisefini Consulting, and Mr. Lukman Aroworamimo and Ms. Roseline Kwasi of Inqaba Biotec as collaborators.
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