Burkinabe Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity (ABuBios)

OUR PROFILE

Since 2021, the initiative to create the association has grown out of the various biosafety training courses organized by partners such as CDC and AS1M. At the time, we approached the national biosafety agency about feasibility, but found that the biological risk aspects of handling potentially pathogenic agents or toxins were quite new to them. This led us to discuss the matter with other players in the One Health project, to ensure that we shared the same vision of biosafety in the laboratory. In June 2022, thanks to a training course on biorisk management organized by the West African organization (OAS) via IFBA, we had a pool of experts who took the creation dossier in hand thanks to strong recommendations provided through the experience of predecessor counties such as Mali. Thus, in November 2022 we were able to set up the Burkinabe Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity (ABuBios), which brings together several profiles of people in the fields of human and animal health and the environment.

Goals and objectives of ABuBios

Goal: to contribute to the promotion of a culture of biosafety and biosecurity and to encourage the development of best practices in the handling of biological agents and toxins that are potentially dangerous to humans, animals and the environment.

Objectives:
– To provide a framework for the continuous and timely exchange of information on good biosafety and biosecurity practices.
– Contribute to the training and awareness-raising of laboratory staff, opinion leaders, decision makers and transporters of biological and chemical substances on good biosafety and biosecurity practices.
– Preventing and combating the risks associated with the unconventional and diverted use of hazardous biological substances
– Promote cooperation and collaboration with national and international structures and partners in the field of biosafety and biosecurity.
– Work for the implementation of biosafety standards and guidelines in both public and private laboratories in Burkina Faso.
– Support public authorities in implementing international commitments on biosafety/biosecurity and the transport of biological and chemical substances.
– Promote the assessment, prevention and management of biosafety and biosecurity risks in Burkina Faso.
– Support public and private authorities in the management of biological and chemical waste.

President: Dr KIENTEGA Sougrinoma Serge