LEADING academics, researchers and reviewers at the University of Ibadan at a two-day brainstorming session on ethical issues in carrying out animal-based research say researchers need to maintain ethics in their studies to ensure its replication and better human health and the environment.
The workshop, organised by the Animal Care and Use Research Ethics Committee, University of Ibadan, in collaboration with the Postgraduate College of the institution, gathered experts from related fields of practice.
Provost, Postgraduate College, UI, Professor Jonathan Babalola, in his keynote address on the occasion, harped on the safety of man and animal within the environment, saying, “People would take safety to be much more important than what we eat, hence the different kinds of safety trainings to make sure that the people are secure.
“If people who are working in industries talk of responsible care, it is important that those of us dealing with lives of our students and animals should work with responsible care. That was one of the things that led us to the fact that it is important to have ethical approvals for some of the researches that we are doing.
“You are not just working blindly; you are optimising what you have within the system. Some people hold that animals have blood and human beings have blood and so if we are ruthless to lower animals, the likelihood is we may never know peace. This concept leads to the fact that we have to be very careful the way we deal with lower animals.”
The chairman of UI-ACRUEC, Prof. Victoria Adetunji, explained that the committee was empowered to ensure that research activities involving animals are in compliance with the federal, state and local regulations and policies governing the use of animals in research.
Adetunji said, “In order to fulfill this mandate, the committee adopts the tool of training and education to build the capacity of researchers, research ethics reviewers and laboratory technology workers from time to time.”
The chairman, Ethics Committee of Animal and Plant Care Agency, United Kingdom, Dr Hugh Simmons, who shared his experience as the chairman of the agency, urged experts on the need to adhere to international best practices in executing animal-based researches for the good of man, animal and the environment.
Professor Olufunke Ola-Davis, who represented the Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UI, Professor OB Adedeji, also stressed the need for proper disposal of animals and other biological agents used in research to protect individuals’ health and stem new diseases from springing forth in the community.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… ‘Ethics on animal-based research central to human, environment health’ ; ‘Ethics on animal-based research central to human, environment health’ ; ‘Ethics on animal-based research central to human, environment health’ ; ‘Ethics on animal-based research central to human, environment health’.
and then