Dakar, June 30 (APS) – Academics and researchers working on genomics presented, Wednesday, in the Senegalese capital, this discipline of modern biology as a tool that should allow for “real-time detection of infectious diseases” and thus provide “good health surveillance”.
By making it possible to detect in particular the responsible agents (parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi among others), “genomics has become a crucial element for having good health surveillance and also proposing effective intervention”, noted the participants at the end of a scientific day organized last Wednesday by the International Center for Research and Training in Applied Genomics and Health Surveillance (CIGASS) at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar.
This scientific meeting, which brought together pharmacists, doctors, biologists, bioinformaticians and entomologists, focused in particular on the theme of “use of genomic and bioinformatic tools in health monitoring”.
Organized in collaboration with the Department of Public Health at Harvard University and the University of California, it should help provide a “platform for scientific exchange and discussion (…) to present innovative research and recent advances ”.
According to the press release from the organizers sent to the APS, “to know the effectiveness of the treatment and see if there is any resistance, science shows us that the genomic tool allows us to monitor the impact, speed and reliability of the results.”
This proves, affirms the same source, that “it is a tool for real-time monitoring and rapid and effective decision-making in prevention”.
The press release also welcomed the fact that most of the studies which were presented during this scientific day, under the cover of IRESSEF, the Pasteur Institute, ISRA, CIGASS, were carried out from “very Senegalese platforms”.
“This is to say that Senegal has become a sort of research and intervention laboratory for Africa and the world. It is a well-equipped country that is full of skills to face health challenges,” rejoiced the International Center for Research and Training in Applied Genomics and Health Surveillance led by the Senegalese academic and associate professor of Parasitology, Daouda Ndiaye.
The text also insists on the importance of always focusing our decisions on “scientific evidence”, a perspective which should make it possible to protect Senegal, “whatever the pandemics or pathologies”.
SMD
 – Senegalese Press Agency){kind=link}