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As part of Egypt’s leading role in supporting and strengthening scientific cooperation with African countries, and in light of the distinguished status of the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute as one of the region’s foremost specialized research centers, and under the patronage of Professor Dr. Ahmed Abdel Aziz, Director of the Institute and Chairman of the Board, the Department of Medical Malacology hosted Dr. Fotio Lambou Agathe, Lecturer at the Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Cameroon, along with the student Ndumbe Daniel Wonjah Lifaka, for a scientific and training visit aimed at developing practical and research skills in studying the life cycle of schistosomiasis parasites and laboratory handling of the intermediate host, in addition to learning about the latest technologies used in this field.

This training comes within the framework of the Institute’s ongoing efforts to transfer scientific and practical expertise to researchers and scholars from various African countries, stemming from Egypt’s belief in the importance of building human capacities across the African continent and supporting scientific cadres in combating endemic diseases, foremost among them schistosomiasis, which continues to represent a major health challenge in several African countries.

The training program included a number of scientific and practical modules, including an introduction to the schistosomiasis life cycle, breeding of medical snails, laboratory infection methods, examination and diagnostic techniques, as well as hands-on training inside the department’s laboratories under the supervision of Professor Dr. Hanan Shehata Mosallam, Head of the Environmental Research and Medical Malacology Division. The training was conducted by Professor Dr. Mohamed Ramadan Habib, Head of the Department of Medical Malacology, and Dr. Khaled Zayed, Assistant Research Professor at the department. Professor Dr. Noha Said Helal, Head of the Pathology Department at the Institute, also participated in training the student on all aspects related to the histopathological examination of infected snails.

In this context, Professor Dr. Ahmed Abdel Aziz stated that the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute is one of the leading scientific institutions possessing extensive accumulated expertise in the fields of schistosomiasis research and gastrointestinal and liver diseases, in addition to its active role in providing training courses, research services, and scientific consultations for students and scholars not only from sister Arab countries but also from African nations. This, he noted, further strengthens Egypt’s position as a prominent regional scientific hub serving the African continent.