Two days’ workshop on "Biosafety and Biosecurity Practices" concludes at UoT.
Posted on 03 Mar, 2023 - Published by
A two days workshop on “Biosafety and Biosecurity Practices: Emphasis on Personal Safety of a Lab Biologist” organized by the Department of Natural and Basic Sciences (NABS), University of Turbat (UoT) in collaboration with Pakistan Biological Safety Association (PBSA) at UoT, has concluded here on 3rd March 2023. The workshop was aimed at creating awareness regarding theoretical and practical aspects of biosafety and biosecurity, safety measures for protecting laboratory workers, the public, and the environment from potentially hazardous biological agents.
Dr. Mansoor Ahmed, Pro Vice-Chancellor, of the University of Turbat graced the workshop as the chief guest of the opening ceremony and closing session. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mansoor Ahmed said the academic debate on biosafety and biosecurity practices in labs is essential for global health security for the reasons that our generation has faced outbreaks of several infectious diseases such as SARC, Swine Flue, MERS, Ebola virus, and the Covid-19 pandemic. He added this scientific workshop signifies that the UoT has become a center of scientific learning and research. He said that the workshop provided great learning opportunities to students and faculty members of Turbat University concerning biosafety and biosecurity Practices.
Elaborating on the aims and objectives of the workshop, Dr. Niamatullah Kakar, Assistant Prof. Natural and Basic Sciences Department and Principal organizer of the event, warmly welcomed the guests from PBSA, speakers, facilitators, faculty members and the participants from the university and other health and educational institutes in the workshop.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Haneef Ur Rehman, Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, UoT expressed gratitude to the team from Pakistan Biological Safety Association, students, faculty members, and administrative staff for their support in conducting a workshop on biosafety and biosecurity practices at Turbat University.
Prof. Dr. Saeed Khan, President PBSA and Professor of Pathology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Dr. Ali Akbar, member of PBSA and Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Balochistan, Dr. Javed Muhammad, member PBSA and Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, University of Haripur, Dr. Imran Khattak, member PBSA & Assistant Director, Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan, Dr. Mashaal Chaudhari, Program manager, PBSA, Ms. Hajra Waheed, Program Coordinator, PBSA and other speakers shared their views and expertise regarding various aspects of biosafety and biosecurity practices, including dynamics of laboratory accidents due to human error, poor laboratory techniques and technical faults, biorisk management, waste management in healthcare and academics institute and emergency preparedness during a two-day workshop on 2nd and 3rd March 2023 at UoT.
The PBSA members also performed practical activities with the participants of the workshop. The students showed active participation in the practical session involving different activities such as hand washing and safe gloves removal, spill management and safe working biosafety cabinet and fume hood, and fundamental principles of biosafety and biosecurity practices. In the end, certificates and shields were distributed among speakers, organizers, volunteers, and students.
The workshop was attended by UoT’s Registrar Ganguzar Baloch, Dr. Afzal Khaliq, Principal Makran Medical College Dr. Haneef Rehman, Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, representatives of DHQ Hospital Turbat, Nursing School, Public Health School, UoT’s deans, directors, faculty members and students in large number.
Report by Dr. Niamatullah Kakar, Assistant Prof. Natural and Basic Sciences Department, UoT