Egypt expands national biosafety training program

CAIRO, Egypt (MNTV) — Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, working with the World Health Organization and supported by the Pandemic Fund, has completed a four-day biosafety excellence workshop. 

More than 70 biosafety officers from public health laboratories across 26 governorates participated in the training.

The program builds on WHO’s 2023 initiative to elevate biosafety and biosecurity standards nationwide, which began with a training-of-trainers workshop and a specialized session for laboratory leaders aimed at reinforcing institutional commitment to safer laboratory practices.

Officials noted that momentum continued in July 2024 with Egypt’s first “biosafety hero” celebration and bio-risk management workshop, recognizing professionals from 27 governorates for innovation and leadership in advancing biosafety awareness and operational standards.

Further capacity-building followed in September 2024, including advanced training for biosafety officers at points of entry and in remote governorates such as North Sinai, South Sinai, Marsa Matrouh, the Red Sea, Minya, Assiut, Suhag, Qena, New Valley, and Luxor. 

Joint follow-up assessments were later conducted at public health laboratories to evaluate progress.

WHO and national officials said the latest workshop marks the transition of the initiative to an “excellence” level, introducing comprehensive occupational health and biosafety modules to strengthen laboratory resilience and readiness.

The initiative underscores Egypt’s ongoing commitment, together with WHO, to enhancing laboratory systems as a core pillar of national health security.