ABU’s Prof. Kwaga is member of Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Microbiological Assessment Risk

2023-03-16 16:50:13ByAdminCategory: Administration

Prof J.K.P. Kwaga of the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has been appointed to serve as member on the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA).

Kwaga, who is currently the Principal Investigator of the Rabies/Dengue Fever Thematic Area of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, will serve on the Committee till December, 2027.

JEMRA is an international meeting of scientific experts administered jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide scientific advice on micrological hazards, including recommendations on risk management options aimed at improving food safety.

The international body is also tasked with the evaluation of different aspects of microbiological risk assessment throughout the agrifood system.

The distinguished professor of veterinary public health and preventive medicine is among the 93 members drawn from 32 countries appointed to work for the Committee. Two Nigerians made the list – Prof. Kwaga and Prof. Etinosa Ogbomoede Igbinosa of the University of Benin.

Prof. Kwaga’s research interest mainly centres on public health and food microbiology, bacterial virulence phenotypes and pathogenesis, genetically engineered bacterial vaccines, molecular bacteriology/molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases, as well as mechanism, ecology and epidemiology of antimicrobial drug resistance.

And, his ongoing studies are on molecular epidemiology of bacterial and viral infections in animals, humans and vectors, and he has been the Principal Investigator for MacArthur Centre of Excellence in Veterinary Epidemiology and World Bank Africa Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology since 2012 and 2013 to date respectively.

The former Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has to his credit a total of 161 articles published in peer-reviewed journals with over 40 papers presented at national and international conferences.

According to JEMRA Roster of Experts, before participating in meetings, selected experts will be required to declare any potential interests associated with the subjects under consideration through completion of the standard declaration of interest form of either organisation.

The roster also explained that all experts will be expected to participate in their individual capabilities and not as representatives of their countries, governments or organisations.

A letter notifying the Vice-Chancellor of Prof. Kwaga’s appointment signed by the Centre Leader, Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Prof. Y.K.E. Ibrahim, described the development as “another achievement to the Centre’s research activities and a plus for the University”.