Amanet launches free web courses

from IPP Media

A study course is being offered for free on the internet for African health researchers. - Kale

By Patrick Kisembo

The African Malaria Network Trust (Amanet) has launched a series of free web-based courses to strengthen the capacity of African health researchers and scientists in Health Research Ethics (HRE) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Speaking at the launch yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Amanet managing trustee Prof Wen Kilama said demand for the courses had surpassed supply despite numerous training workshops.

With over one thousand beneficiaries, he said launching of the series of courses not only addressed the gap, but underscored his pan-African organisation`s desire to safeguard the well-being of African health research participants.

``But we also need to reach out to the French-speaking research community in Africa because they have been deprived of such training, mainly provided in English,`` said Prof. Kilama.

The project is sponsored by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).

The project works to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines and microbicides against HIV/ AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, with its focus being on phase II and III clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa.

The organisation`s communication officer, Dr Charles Wanga, said 200 researchers and scientists had been trained on good clinical practice.

``The number is still very low compared to the demand. The introduction of the GCP course into free web-courses offered by AMANET will enable more researchers and scientists to access this important training,`` said Wanga.

He said the most important thing was to ensure that health research done by African researchers meet both ethical and scientific standards. ``We need to protect participants in human research through the strengthening of African ethics committees, scientists and their institutions on this regard,`` he said.

Previously, Prof Kilama said the disease burden among African countries prompted action from both the local and international communities.

``This has led to an unprecedented increase in health research activities in Africa. Despite established successes, health research involving humans has had its historical darkest moments of abusing research participants, particularly the vulnerable,`` he said.

The managing trustee said poor health delivery systems, lower levels of education and poverty of communities and governments made African populations highly vulnerable to abuse.

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