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Online Experience During the JICA KCCP Training

I was privileged to participate in the Knowledge Co-Creation Program on "Nurturing Researchers of Countermeasure for Zoonosis Including a Parasitic Disease" from 24, February, 2021 to 10, February, 2022. The program was organized by JICA in collaboration with Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine under the International Cooperation Program of the Government of Japan.

During this program, we had intensive training on some of the zoonotic diseases that pose a threat worldwide under the 9 different units of the National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases. The course was split into two parts; preparation and the main part. In the preparation part, participants were tasked to generate a research proposal with guidance from their respective supervisors. The major part of this research proposal was to be carried out practically in Japan but the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible.

The main part comprised of on demand lectures that were professionally and thoroughly prepared by Professors from Japan, short video clips and mini-tests at the end of each unit.

Based on the course outline, the following were my key lessons/experiences during the program:

1. Generating a scientific research proposal.
2. Appreciation of some of the diagnostic techniques and procedures through the live videos shown by the professors and their assistants. For example, PCR, Plasmid extraction, cloning among many others.
3. Appreciation of the advanced technologies used in disease diagnosis.

I would like to extend my gratitude to JICA, my supervisors Dr Vudriko Patrick, Shirafuji Sensei, and all the professors for the support during the entire training period.

I hope to use the knowledge and skills acquired to contribute to finding solutions to the disease diagnostic challenges in Uganda and also to advance in my academic career at different levels. I also desire to travel to Japan to experience all the above practically.