The University of Cape Coast (UCC) is planning to establish an animal research facility to enable researchers involved in the use of animals for experimentation produce quality research data.
When completed, the facility will ensure the proper care and humane use of animals within the UCC research, testing and teaching.
It is against this backdrop that the University is picking brains of experts in animal research facility to assist the College of Health and Allied Sciences to get firsthand information on principles for biomedical research involving animals and how a future animal laboratory facility would enhance the generation of research data for animal researchers.
At a day's training workshop on animal care use in research, testing and teaching held at the School of Medical Sciences Auditorium, the head of the Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana (UG), Dr. Samuel Adjei, said the proper housing and management of animal facility were essential to the wellbeing of animals.
Speaking on the topic: “Animal Experiments: Ethics and Welfare”. Dr. Adjei observed that "For us (animal researchers) to get the best out of the animals, we must also take care of their wellbeing and our research data will not be compromised.”
According to him, some of the criteria for assessing animal research facilities included minimal noise, hygiene, temperature, amongst others.
He, therefore, called for good management programme to be put in place by the UCC to ensure that laboratory animals were properly taking care of, fed on time and slept in a conducive environment.
Dr. Samuel Adjei expressed worry about the manner and way most Ghanaians treat animals and implored them to treat animals with care and dignity.
He added that shouting on animals was against the 1960 Ghana Criminal Code and offenders could be prosecuted or fined.
He walked the audience through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NIACUC) which was established in 2012.
He added that the body has oversight responsibility for the proper care and humane use of animals within UG research, testing and teaching programmes.
At the workshop, a Research Assistant Fellow, Ms. Constance Agbemelo-Tsomafo, also delivered a presentation on the topic “Occupational Health and Safety in Laboratory Animal Care and Use”
An Associate Professor at the Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences at UG, Prof. George Awuku Asare, spoke on the topic “Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: Usefulness, Requirements and Operation.”
Closing the workshop, the Director for the Biomedical and Clinical Research Centre at UCC, Prof. Samuel Kyei, expressed his gratitude to all participants and commended their dedication to the advancement of knowledge through responsible animal research.
He highlighted the importance of continued learning and collaboration in ensuring the welfare of animals involved in research, testing, and training.
The workshop was chaired by Prof. Martins Ekor, the Provost of the College of Health and Allied Sciences.