The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in conjunction with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research of the University of Ghana has launched an ambitious project to strengthen public health in the country.

The project dubbed “Surveillance and Laboratory Support for Emerging Pathogens of Public Health Importance in Ghana” is aimed at strengthening surveillance system by establishing a model for basic research-linked surveillance system in Ghana.

It is also aimed at deepening the understanding of the defense mechanism of intestinal mucosal tissue of enteric infectious diseases such as Cholera and host immune response to HIV.

The initiative was jointly performed on September 27, 2016 at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research by Prof. Kwadwo Koram, Director of the Institute, Mr. Koji Makin, Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, H. E. Kaoru Yoshimura, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana and officials of the Ghana Health Service.

A joint statement issued by JICA, GHS and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research on Monday said the project would be implemented through collaborative research with Japanese research institutions such as the Institution of Medical Science of the University of Tokyo (IMSUT), Mie University (MU), National Mie Hospital (NMH), and National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), with IMSUT as the representative institution.

Ghanaian institutions that would be involved in the project are the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana and the Ghana Health Service. “The result of this project is expected to benefit the countermeasures for pathogens of public health importance in all of Ghana and also in the West African region in the future”, the joint statement in part read.

Mr. Koji Makino, Chief Representative, JICA commenting on the initiative said JICA is very proud that the Noguchi Memorial Institute has grown to work as an equal partner with Japanese Universities and congratulate the Noguchi Memorial Institute on its remarkable achievement and contribution toward the improvement of health conditions not only in Ghana but also in West Africa Sub-Region.