The Small Animal Teaching Hospital (SATH) of the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghana, has established the first National Fish Histopathology Reference Laboratory with support from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI).
Dr. Isaac Kofitsyo Sewornu Cudjoe, who is the lead of the Norwegian Government-funded flagship Fish for Development (FfD) project in Ghana, led the NVI to donate essential histopathology and molecular equipment, as well as reagents to the University of Ghana, to facilitate the establishment of the laboratory. The Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences also collaborated with the School of Veterinary Medicine on the AQUAHEM Project to procure additional equipment to complete the laboratory.
Trainees during the training programme
Following the establishment of the laboratory, a three-day training programme in Basic Aquatic Histopathology was held at SATH to equip professionals with the necessary skills to become excellent histopathologists and ensure that the laboratory operates at a high level of proficiency, adheres to international standards and provides accurate diagnoses.
Practical session during the training programme
Dr. Cudjoe led a team of experts including Prof. Trygve Poppe, Prof. Ole Bendik Dale, Dr. Ali Shimaa, Miroslava Hansen and Jacob Zornu from NVI, in training participants from 2nd to 10th April, 2024. Participants included laboratory technicians, veterinarians, fisheries officers, lecturers and postgraduate students from the University of Ghana, University for Development Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Lagos, Fisheries Commission of Ghana and the Veterinary Services Directorate in Ghana. The course was designed to incorporate field visits, theoretical lectures and intensive practical laboratory work.
Dr. Cudjoe recounted that the idea of establishing a National Fish Histopathology Reference Laboratory was prompted by the increasing threat of fish disease outbreaks confronting the aquaculture industry and the lack of a functional histopathology laboratory dedicated to fish diseases. He acknowledged the efforts of the NVI in donating the histopathology equipment to the Fisheries Commission and the University of Ghana in 2023. Dr. Cudjoe highlighted the provision of laboratory space by UGSVM and the efforts of Dr. Samuel Addo in securing additional equipment for the project. He concluded by commending the NORAD trainers and trainees for ensuring the success of the programme.
Dr. Otsyina (first from right), Ag. Dean, SATH during his remarks
Prof. Hope Otsyina, Ag. Dean of the UG School of Veterinary Medicine (UGSVM), in his remarks at the closing ceremony of the training programme, emphasised the importance of histopathology in disease diagnosis, particularly in the context of fish veterinary medicine. He expressed gratitude for the training received and acknowledged the joint support of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. He assured the experts that the team would leverage their acquired knowledge to achieve even greater results.
Dr. Angela Lamptey (middle) addressing trainees with Dr. Cudjoe (left ) and Prof. Tiburu (right), representing the Provost
Representing the Head of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, Dr. Angela Lamptey, a Senior Lecturer at the Department, expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort in establishing the Laboratory. She thanked UGSVM for providing the space and NORAD for funding the project. She commended the trainers for their dedication and encouraged a maintenance culture to sustain the laboratory, while also reiterating the Department's readiness to collaborate further with the experts.
Prof. Tiburu (middle) delivering his remarks with Dr. Lamptey and Dr. Otsyina (right)
The Guest of Honour, Prof. Elvis Tiburu, representing the Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, expressed his excitement about the Histopathology lab being a first of its kind in Ghana. He extended heartfelt gratitude to the entire team for their contribution to this achievement and emphasised the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability for the lab.
Prof. Trygve Poppe with the Ag. Dean of SATH
Prof. Trygve Poppe, a lead trainer from NORAD, commended the University of Ghana and the trainees for their enthusiastic participation in the training and emphasised its importance in advancing histopathology. He called for increased collaboration between the UGSVM and the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Tiburu thanked the facilitators and attendees and indicated that he would propose collaborations to integrate student supervision, online teaching by international professors and further international partnerships, to the Provost.
A group photograph after the closing ceremony
Also present at the occasion were Dr. Oni Ayodeji Ayotunde, SATH Coordinator; Dr. Sherry Johnson and Dr. Allen Okine, both from the School of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Eunice Konadu Asamoah, Dr. Andy Agyekumhene, Dr. Collins Duodu and Dr. Kwame Agyekum from the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences and Ms. Victoria Anim, Public Affairs Officer for the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
The ceremony ended with presentation of souvenirs to the trainers as a token of appreciation for their contributions.