Organizations Partner to Train Medical Practitioners on GMOs Awareness
By Ene Okwanihe, Abuja
The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology OFAB, Africa Agricultural Technology Foundation AATF and the National Biotechnology Development Agency NABDA has organized a one-day training workshop for medical practitioners on better understanding and awareness creation of Genetically Modified Organisms.
The training with the theme “sensitizing medical practitioners on the science, safety and benefits of Agricultural Biotech Products” was held in Abuja Nigeria’s capital city.
It seeks to ensure that medical practitioners are equipped with up to date information and facts about Genetically Modified Organism, GMOs and to enable them to pass it on to their patients when the need arises.
The Director General of the NABDA, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha while welcoming the participants solicited for the support of the medical practitioners in the ongoing efforts to educate Nigerians on the safety of genetically modified organisms.
He said the training was necessary as it would keep them abreast of latest trends in Genetically Modified Organism GMOs.
“You are at the forefront of patients care so it is essential for you to be equipped with the latest knowledge and information on genetically Modified Organisms and their products, this workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the science behind genetic modification”
He urged the medical practitioners and other critical stakeholders to support the federal government drive in enhancing food productivity and availability by joining hands with NABDA to deepen Nigeria’s biotechnology experience, noting that the country requires modern technology for an increased and sustainable food production.
In a presentation, Dr Rose Gidado, Director, Department of Agricultural biotechnology at NABDA said the workshop is expected to bridge all existing information gaps between agricultural scientists and medical practitioners on activities of GMOs.
Dr. Gidado noted that scientists through biotechnology have succeeded in using living organisms and biological processes to improve life on earth, adding that biotechnology application has become very necessary in almost all sectors of the economy especially in the health sector where various vaccines are saving lives.
“The application of biotechnology cuts across various fields ranging from medicine to industry, environment and agriculture, among these sectors, agriculture is the most important, because agriculture provides food without which humans cannot survive in addition to serving as the resource factor for other sectors including medicine, industry and environment.”
The representative of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) FCT Chapter, Dr. Ifiok Ikpe a consultant obstetrics Gynecology at the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja said the partnership with the NMA is paving the way for better understanding of GMO in food production, while demystifying the myth around GMO products.
A participant Dr. Sani Ahmad of the Department of Family Medicine who spoke on the importance of the training to him and his colleagues said the training offered them an in-depth insight into GMOs so they can in turn enlighten their patients accordingly.
He added that it’s an opportunity for them to know how GMOs impact human health directly and indirectly.
The one-day sensitization workshop was organized in collaboration with relevant Stakeholders and Regulators, Including, the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS), African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), National Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC).
