Client: Ministry of Health Angola
Contract Value: USD 85,000
Status: Ongoing
Location: South Africa
Year: 2024-ongoing
Benguela Health’s Team Members: Catherine Brown, Derry Heron, Sandla Maseko
Project Description:
Benguela Health has been sub-contracted through LTS to work with the Ministry of Health in Angola to design and update their National Multisectoral Biosafety and Biosecurity Strategy and Action Plan.
The primary objective of this initiative is to develop comprehensive Biosafety and Biosecurity Action Plans tailored to the human, animal, and environmental health sectors. This involves creating sector-specific strategies to address the unique challenges and risks associated with each area. For human health, the focus will be on preventing the spread of infectious diseases within healthcare settings and the broader community. In animal health, the aim is to control zoonotic diseases that can transfer between animals and humans. Environmental health plans will address the safe handling and disposal of biological waste to protect ecosystems and public health.
The second objective is to produce a comprehensive Biosafety and Biosecurity Manual that aligns with the WHO “One Health” approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health into a single, unified framework. This manual will serve as a critical reference document, providing standardized protocols, guidelines, and best practices for biosafety and biosecurity across all sectors. It will outline procedures for handling pathogens and biological agents, safety measures for laboratory and field work, and strategies for preventing and responding to biological incidents.
The manual will also incorporate international regulations and laws, ensuring that Angola’s practices meet global standards.
The third objective is to develop a comprehensive Biosafety Training Program that will enable the effective implementation of the Biosafety and Biosecurity Manual across all health sectors.
.Roles and Responsibilities:
- LTS Role and Responsibility:
- Overall Programme Management
- Laboratory Expertise, Technical Oversight and Leadership
- Benguela Health’s Role and Responsibility: Technical Assistance in:
- Developing Biosafety and Biosecurity Action Plans
- Supporting the development of the Manual