ANAW

Student leader champions use of alternatives to lab animals

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:10:50 +0000

Passive, subservient learning is characteristic of many students in many institutions of higher learning in Kenya. Questioning lecturers on content and challenging the existing modes of teaching is considered rude and disrespectful. Many students cower at a sharp glance or a strict word from a professor. Not so for Dennis Makau, a third year student in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nairobi.

Jerry

Dennis fights for what he believes is right. He is never afraid to voice his opinion or challenge others into doing what is right. His strong qualities had him elected to be the Faculty Representative of the department of Veterinary Medicine at the university, just in his 2nd year.

His proactive nature, great love for animals and passion to care for them also got the twenty two year old aspiring veterinarian to join the Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) during his first year. He worked as an intern for six months at the organization where he took part in humane education activities, de-snaring operations, community conservation education and attended various fora on animal welfare issues. The experience strengthened his dedication to fight for animals at the same time giving him the necessary foundation for his long desired career.

His urge to diversify his knowledge and understanding of animal welfare had him volunteer in Africa’s first ever Pan African Seminar on Alternatives to the use of animals in educational training and experiments organized by ANAW and the International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE) in Kenya in September 2009. At this seminar, Dennis shared a platform with some of his University of Nairobi lecturers, where they were introduced to new technological resources available and already effectively in use in Universities elsewhere. He was very inquisitive. “I asked many questions because I wanted answers to many issues that bothered me regarding use of animals in research and experiments,” explained Dennis.

Student Leader

The 22 year old student leader continues to pursue concerns over the inhumane use of live animals in labs for experimentation in schools. “For very many decades animals have been used in the laboratory procedures for the trials of various drugs in drug development and mostly for teaching purposes. Since the inception of this method of teaching the education system in Kenya has been reluctant to change and adopt other methods. Right from primary school, pupils are meant to understand that in science we have to sacrifice a few for the betterment of the world.” He says.
As was discussed during the seminar, he had observed that the use of animals in training results in pain and in some cases death. He learnt of a solution to the problem. “Mannequins have been developed with the latest technology to mimic the exact characteristics of the live animals and these can be used over and over without suffering the problem of shortage due to inevitable trauma deaths and most of all inflicting pain to live animals.”
“Unlike in human medicine where cadavers are available for use during the training sessions minimizing injury to live people, this same perspective is largely lacking in the veterinary teaching system in this country.” He goes on to say that the only alternative left for the teaching staff is the use of live and at times normal healthy animals to demonstrate the different surgical procedure like eye enucleating or even claw removal usually to cows.
Among other inhumane processes are very invasive procedures like kidney and other organs extraction performed on fit animals. These processes usually terminate in mercy killing. Though the involved personnel tries to minimize the pain inflicted, it is not totally effective and thus the animal still suffers extreme trauma. If the procedure is not fatal, the animal is then left deformed or impaired e.g. without one eye or claw or any other deformity that it wasn’t born with. The animal is unable to cope with the sudden state it has been dealt with.
He has taken the lead in engaging lecturers over this during lectures. But no sooner the quarrel brews than the rude awakening comes that there can simply be no other way to learn than that. Though some of the students do not understand the position of their friends, such a small population of animal caring individuals is all that is needed to bring change in the teaching fraternity.
“Embracing the use of these new teaching aides will not only improve the performance of the students but also encourage more students to take up the course since the fear of witnessing or taking part in animal ‘torture’ and mistreatment puts off many potentially brilliant scientists.”
Dennis hopes to bring change to the way of teaching at the University. He hopes to fight tooth and nail for the welfare of these lab animals. “I personally do stand in support of use of the alternative methods of teaching in place of lab animal be it rats, mice, dogs or even equines used for training purposes. I thus urge the university management and student fraternity as well as the vets in other institutions to embrace this new way of life.”
Dennis concludes that while we are looking to come up with ways of combating the numerous diseases that are eradicating the human race, we should also in the process not eradicate various animal species. We should also accept change. “Looking in the same direction for so long does make the neck stiff and thus a few turns here and there keep us propelled in the right direction.”

Naivasha Communities: Cheap Valentine Roses will not Kill our Freshwater Lake

admin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:36:04 +0000

Lake Naivasha: A beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. Afternoon winds and storms can cause the Lake to become suddenly rough and produce high waves. For this reason, the local Maasai people christened the lake Nai’posha meaning ”rough water”, which the British later misspelt as Naivasha. Much of the lake is surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, known as the yellow fever tree. These forests abound with bird life, making Lake Naivasha a known world class birding destination. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lakes large hippo population sleeps the day out in the shallows.

That was the captivating story of Lake Naivasha in yester-years. Today, it’s the complete reverse. The thick papyrus plantations have since been replaced with large flower farms in the area – horticulture at the expense of the once magnificent lake. The water levels have been dipping and the lake shrinking. The decline has been blamed on extensive irrigation activities along the lake by the large flower plantations that export their produce to the lucrative European markets. Electric pumps at the flower farms are used to draw thousands of litres of water per-hour from the Lake to irrigate the massive farms.

Runoff draining straight to Lake Naivasha

Besides, the extensive irrigation, various other factors are slowly threatening the lake’s existence. Scientists like Professor Elijah Biamah (Environmental and Water Systems Engineer) of the University of Nairobi and Ecology and conservation biologist at the University of Leicester, Dr David Harper blame the death of Hippos, Fish and Birds in recent times at the lake on poisonous runoff from the surrounding flower farms. “Naivasha is definitely poisoned by the chemicals from the flower industry there,” said Prof. Biamah who is also concerned that the poisonous chemicals might be leaking into the ground water supplies and underground aquifers posing a larger environmental disaster. Dr Harper said: “Roses that come cheap are grown by companies that have no concern for the environment, who cut corners and avoid legislation, who sell their flowers into the auction in Amsterdam so that all the buyer knows is the flowers come from Holland”.

The worse scenario is that even the wildlife, communities, and their domestic animals have limited access to the ‘poisoned’ lake. The flower farmers have fenced their tracts of land with high perimeter stone walls and electric fences, barring access to the lake. Naivasha town’s population soured with the establishment of the flower industry and the rapid development overstretched the town’s facilities such as the sewer system and solid waste disposal. Most of this waste is trickling into the lake.

Dead fish from Lake Naivasha

It would appear as if the flower industry is the epicenter of Lake Naivasha’s woes. Communities in the catchment are equally to blame for their destructive activities such as cutting down forests for charcoal burning, firewood and land clearance for farming. Poor farming practices have seen a lot of silt flowing downstream into the lake while the rivers that flow into the lake dry up. While both the communities and flower industry have negatively contributed to the current situation, the difference among them is huge. The communities are suffering the most and have realized that they need to do something while the affluent flower farmers persist on their destructive activities driven by greed for profits.
Following several meetings with opinion leaders around Lake Naivasha, Africa Network for Animal Welfare is facilitating them to work together in initiating proactive measures crucial to saving the lake, their only freshwater source. The communities have organized themselves under the auspices of Lake Naivasha Ecosystem Stakeholders Coalition (LANESCO), bringing together farmers in the catchment, pastoralists, fisher folk, religious organizations, human rights organizations and the municipal council. With facilitation and technical support from ANAW, the Naivasha community wants to develop a management strategy as long term measure to conserving the lake which is already recognized as a protected site by the RAMSAR Convention which Kenya is a signatory.

Coloured waters of Lake Naivasha

In the meantime, ANAW and LANESCO call on your support to pressure the flower industry in Kenya to stop releasing effluent into the lake by petitioning the Kenya Government, Lake Naivasha Growers Group and the Flower Council of Kenya. You can also contribute to the protection of Lake Naivasha by lobbying UK shoppers to buy Fair Trade roses, produced by companies that are conscientious to environment and have a transparent supply chain. Flowers from Kenya certainly don’t meet these criteria and should be boycotted immediately!

Africa Animal Welfare Workshop

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:16:44 +0000

Title: Africa Animal Welfare Workshop
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Description: September 3rd 2010, Nairobi, Kenya

PURPOSE

In September 21st- 22nd 2009, more than 20 animal welfare organizations from 11 African countries met in Nairobi, Kenya for a workshop whose theme was working together, tackling animal welfare challenges in Africa.

The participants from, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, DR. Congo, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Egypt unanimously adopted a six point resolution. Key among the resolutions was the development of an African Declaration on Animal Welfare (ADAW). The purpose of the workshop is to receive the ADAW progress report from the secretariat and discuss strategies on lobbying and advocacy in support of the ADAW by all African Countries.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Participants representing animal welfare groups working in the African Continent, Individuals with proven interest in animal welfare and other NGOs with activities addressing wildlife/environmental conservation, professionals in veterinary/animal health and government officials.

Date: 2010-09-03

Seminar on the alternatives to the use of Animals in Educational Experiments and Dissections, 23rd– 24th September 2009, Nairobi Kenya

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:11:32 +0000

Seminar on the alternatives to the use of Animals in Educational Experiments and Dissections, 23rd– 24th September 2009, Nairobi Kenya

Overview
The first ever seminar on the alternatives to the use of animals in educational experiments and dissections in Africa is scheduled to take place 23rd – 24th September 2009 in Nairobi Kenya at the Kenya Institute of Education. The seminar will focus on animal use and alternatives within biological science, medical and veterinary medical education. The seminar is organized by the International Network on Humane Education (InterNICHE) and Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW).

Details

The Host Organizations
InterNICHE is an open and diverse network comprising students, teachers and animal campaigners. The network focuses on animal use and alternatives within biological science, medical and veterinary medical education.
There is no membership, but free association around the issue of progressive, humane life science education. InterNICHE works in partnership with any individual, group or department that shares the common goals of replacement of harmful animal use and investment in high quality ethical science.
Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) is a Pan African Not-for-Profit animal welfare Organization based in Kenya.
Its main objective is to work together with communities and other animal welfare and environmental stakeholders in promoting sustainable use of our biodiversity and the humane treatment of farm, wild and companion animals in Africa through compassion, care, appreciation and protection.
For the past three years of its existence ANAW has made considerable progress in Animal welfare activities including being given an AWARD in recognition of extreme dedication and commitment to the cause of Animal Welfare.
The Seminar
The main agenda of the seminar will be to introduce and demonstrate technological means that learning institutions in Africa can use to provide a high quality, humane approach to teaching biological science and human and veterinary medicine. The Seminar will also focus on practical support that participants can utilize to help replace harmful animal use and complement existing alternative methods.

Swine Flu: Is the pig guilty?

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:17:58 +0000

For years, pigs have been ridiculed, degraded and demonized by human beings. In the Middle East and other Arabian countries, it is forbidden, due to religious beliefs, to eat or own pigs because they are considered dirty and filthy. In truth, the animals are not filthy but that’s an argument for another day.

Swine grown using the free range method

The English figure of speech, ‘flying pig’ has been used every so often in many countries. The term, which is used to suggest complete impossibility, ridicules pigs because of their weight. And now, the cursed animals have a whole influenza virus named after them! The virus was reported to have caused 8,012 deaths and 1,037,712 cases worldwide on 23rd November 2009, in more than 207 countries and overseas territories and communities. A close look at some facts about the pandemic H1N1 2009 Influenza Virus will show that the pigs are not responsible for its spread.

On 3rd June 2009, a scientific consultation via teleconference was hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in order to assess the potential risk of the virus. From their consensus statements we realize that pigs have practically nothing to do with its fast spreading pace. Let’s go through some of the facts.
While it is true that humans can become infected through close contact with ill pigs infected with the H1 N1 virus and showing influenza- like signs, such occurrences are rarely documented through current surveillance systems.

Here’s a surprising fact. When a human being eats the meat of an infected pig he/she will not be infected with the virus. This is because Influenza viruses are generally restricted to the respiratory tract of pigs and are not detected in muscle (meat) of pigs even during acute illness. Heat treatments commonly used in cooking meat (e.g. 70C/160F core temperature) will readily inactivate viruses and other pathogens potentially present in raw pork products.

Small piglets standing on hay

Many have argued that being in an environment where pigs are bred can expose one to contracting the virus. Well, they should be pleased to know that they are wrong because the risk of humans becoming infected from contamination reaching the environment (e.g. through manure) is minimal as influenza viruses are not usually shed in faeces of the pig.

From the above facts we see that the pigs have little to do with the spread of the virus. They are innocent. In fact, they are vulnerable to getting infected with the virus by human beings! People ill with influenza have reportedly infected pigs with influenza viruses. Thought these cases have not been well documented, those working with pigs should follow the same advice given to the general public. Stay at home if you exhibit flu- like symptoms.

So the next time you say Swine Flu, Pig Influenza, Swine Influenza, Pig flu or Hog Flu out loud, know that you are condemning an innocent animal by giving it a label it does not deserve.

Humane Education: Technology now Saving Lab Animals

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:15:45 +0000

There is really no good reason why animals should be killed for dissections and used in experiments for education and training purposes while modern and innovative methods without the use of animals exist, and have become the norm at many universities. Africa Network for Animal Welfare was in September 2009 privileged to host the groundbreaking initiative to promote and implement such replacement alternatives to the use of animals across Africa.

Co-organized by ANAW and the International Network for Humane Education-InterNICHE, the 2-day Alternatives Seminar brought together 22 campaigning organizations from 11 African countries, InterNICHE experts from England, Mexico, India and Egypt, and over 100 Kenyan teachers, surgeons and government officials.

Critical Care Jerry

Published studies have shown that knowledge, skills and ethical awareness can be gained more effectively using progressive and alternative methods. It is also tried and proven that students learn even better when apprenticing to qualified colleagues and using animal patients. For instance when veterinary students assist experienced colleagues in clinical work with real animal patients, they learn a broad range of clinical skills, including care for patients and respect for life – in contrast to animal experiments which teach them that animals are disposable tools
When biology students study animals in their natural habitats with non-invasive methods, they learn far more about animal behavior than an animal experiment in the laboratory would teach them. And paralleling the dissections done by human medical students on donated human bodies, veterinary and biology students can perform ethical dissections on animals that have died from illness or injury.
Many such seminars, conferences and training events on ethical education and methods that are more efficient to teaching objectives have been successfully held in Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, India, Mexico and Peru among other locations around the world by InterNICHE in collaboration with universities, partner organizations and networks.
InterNICHE- an open and diverse network comprising students, teachers and animal campaigners focuses on animal use and alternatives within biological science, medical and veterinary education. Following demonstrations and hands-on experience of alternatives at the Alternatives Seminar, participants received resources, including freeware and other low-cost or no-cost alternatives whose impact can now be measured globally.
Addressing seminar participants, ANAW Director Josphat Ngonyo said: “We intend that the Alternatives Seminar will empower participants to be ambassadors for alternatives in their own countries. InterNICHE will provide the information, resources and support to achieve this. The impact on Kenya will be considerable, particularly now with government support for humane approaches and innovative technology in education and training.”
InterNICHE coordinator Nick Jukes added, “We applaud the Kenyan government’s interest in humane education and are confident in the pedagogical, ethical and economic advantages of replacement alternatives. We hope that other countries will follow Kenya’s lead, and that the Alternatives Seminar will play a role in facilitating the process of change right across the continent.”
India’s foremost campaigner for alternatives, Snehal Bhavsar, described her strategies for catalyzing curricular change across the state of Gujarat in India, including her success in achieving 80% reduction of animal use in education.
Sofia Ponce, a Mexican participant and facilitator presented the vision and activities of the Center for Animal Alternatives in Education (CAAE) program at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico while Fawzy Elnady from the University of Cairo in Egypt addressed the aspect of information and communications technology in relation to alternatives, with a global and African overview.
Further presentations included the rationale for seeing caring as an essential clinical skill which must be placed at the heart of veterinary and medical training; the use of the POP-trainer for live laparoscopic surgical training without animal experiments; and the use of the Biopac Student Lab for self-experimentation as an alternative in physiology practical classes.

Africa to Declare Animals are Sentient Beings

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:13:14 +0000

Like-minded animal welfare organizations and individuals convened in Nairobi in September 21st -22nd 2009 during which they declared to pursue an African Declaration for Animal Welfare (ADAW).

According to resolutions adopted by participants representing eleven countries from across Africa and supported by participants from the UK, India, Switzerland and Mexico, the African Declaration will be an agreement among African People and Nations to recognize that animals are sentient beings and can suffer, to respect their welfare needs, and to end animal cruelty-for good.

The Nairobi animal welfare meeting which was the first of its kind in Africa by focusing on collaboration and networking in tackling animal welfare challenges bestowed the mandate of coordinating the ADAW process to ANAW and WSPA’s Africa regional office.

ANAW and WSPA understand that the ambition feeds into and supports the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) agenda which aims to lobby governments from around the globe to come together at the UN and declare that animals are sentient beings.

a monkey displays emotion as it settles for a meal

To achieve the ADAW and ultimately the UDAW, the two organizations (ANAW and WSPA) have already rolled down the process of identifying an appropriate intergovernmental forum to host such a debate and then through lobbying and advocacy encourage the body and its constituents to make a declaration in support of animal welfare. ANAW Director, Josphat Ngonyo is optimistic about the progress and envisions that the African Declaration would be a key output from the September 2010 scheduled Africa-wide animal welfare conference in Nairobi.

“A venture of this collaborative, networking and partnership nature demands a clear vision since it attracts major challenges that are however surmountable if those involved identify and value the pursuit of a common goal, develop and sustain a working trust amongst themselves, create and maintain harmonious interpersonal relations, develop strategies that overcome obstacles that hinder productive activities, and become involved in all levels that they deserve,” said Ngonyo when commenting on the ambitious target to unify and motivate the disparate animal welfare organizations in Africa through the ADAW process and annual gatherings.

Other major resolutions adopted by participating countries- South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania, DR. Congo, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Kenya included gathering periodically, in any case no less than one year, as partners in animal welfare to share ideas, experiences and best practices in animal welfare.

The participants at the first Pan-African animal welfare workshop also agreed to use all avenues at their disposal, including technology and the media, to reach out to governments, private sector, local communities and the larger international community on matters touching on animal welfare while working in unity, using collective strengths to advocate, educate and promote animal welfare.

They also recognized that animal protection and care was the primary responsibility of governments, but emphasized that as a network of individual Africa animal welfare organizations they needed to support and compliment government efforts to ensure that animals continue to enjoy protection and care.

Campaigners Demand End To Bare Hand Bull Killing In South Africa

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:33:31 +0000

A campaign to end South Africa’s ritual bare hand bull killing is in top gear spearheaded by animal welfarists across the African continent. Barely two months before another bull is torn apart to die a terrified and agonizing death, the South African Parliament has been petitioned to denounce this annual ritual as unbecoming of the modern face of Africa.

wokeshwama - barehands bull killing ritual

The momentum against this inhumane cultural practice build up during the pan-African conference on animal welfare, held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 21- 22 September 2009, during which delegates unanimously called for the recognition of animals as ’sentient’, deserving of care, respect and protection.

Delegates at this conference organized by Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW) also signed a petition calling on the South African Parliament to halt, with immediate effect, the bare handed killing of the bull at the First Fruit Festival in Kwa Zulu-Natal usually held on the first Saturday in December each year. The petition stated:

“We believe that cruelty to animals is not the face of Africa that will see us contributing to global discourse as competent and dignified participants.” Countries that took part in the conference included Somali, Uganda, Egypt, DR Congo, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
During the right-of-passage ritual known as “Ukweshwama” which occurs every year in the First Fruits Festival in Kwazulu Natal, a bull is killed by a group of young men with their bare hands. The men pull the bull to the ground. His tongue will be ripped out. Terrified, he will struggle, but he will be outnumbered. Handfuls of dirt will be shoved into his mouth. Hands will plunge into his eye sockets and tear out his eyes. His genitals will be mutilated. Other horrendous acts will follow until life will finally drain from his helpless body.
Animal Welfare campaigners in Africa are not alone in this mission. A group of Australians led by Carole de Fraga from Compassion in World Farming in Australia and independent campaigner, Natalie Houghton have appealed to the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, to suspend this traditional Zulu event that is planned for Saturday, December 5.
The ritual is excluded from animal protection laws on grounds of cultural liberty. “In our letter to President Zuma,” said Ms Houghton, “We respectfully suggest that that there are other important factors relating to the bull slaughter, other than cultural liberty, such as: changing human values; the degrading effect on the men who engage in the ritual; the bull’s capacity to feel extreme fear and pain; and the international image of South Africa.
Ms Houghton and Kenyan well respected animal welfare campaigner, Frankline Mukwanja will be in Cape Town in November to lobby senior South African government and opposition officials to end this inhumane cultural practice.

Kenya Takes Firm Stand on Ivory Trade Ahead of CITES COP15 Meeting

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:32:15 +0000

The Kenyan government has proposed changes in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) trade rules ahead of the forthcoming Conference of Parties meeting in March 2011 in Qatar.
Supported by several other African governments the Kenyan government hope to block any attempts by other countries to gain CITES endorsement of further legal ivory sales before at least 2028.
CITES CoP meetings occur every three years and changes to trade rules, through amendments to the CITES Appendices can have profound conservation implications for affected species. The listing of a species in Appendix I effectively prevents all commercial international trade, while those listed in Appendix II can be traded under special permit conditions.

Proposals for the CoP15 include species familiar in CITES debate, like the African Elephant, some that were rejected at the previous meeting (CoP14) in The Hague, Netherlands in June 2008 and a number of new issues for consideration by member countries.

Kenya’s proposal is guaranteed to elicit controversy as it aims to put an end to the currently approved legal export of carved ivory items from Namibia and Zimbabwe by tourists. In conflict with this proposal are requests from Zambia and Tanzania to transfer their African Elephant populations from Appendix I to Appendix II in order to allow one-off sale of government-owned ivory stockpiles.

“The conflicting aims of the Kenyan-led and Tanzania / Zambia proposals are certain to create tension and deep divisions,” said Steven Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC International. “We hope that a satisfactory conclusion can be reached that serves the best interests of conservation and that the discussion does not detract from the key problems causing the poaching of elephants, such as the lack of control over illegal domestic ivory markets.”

Even with the consensus agenda being fronted, Kenya with her supporters are likely to maintain their stance explaining that the CITES decision to allow the one-off sale of ivory was not well supervised and has led to the death of other species like rhinos, buffalos and antelopes. Investigations show that killers of elephants take everything in their wake. Since January 2009, Kenya has lost 125 elephants through poaching but most of the poached ivory has been recovered by Kenya Wildlife Service through security operations.

Campaign against experiments on animals to move a notch higher

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:13:49 +0000

A major Africa animal welfare event is scheduled for this September in Kenya’s Capital City -Nairobi. The first of its kind, the Pan African Seminar on alternatives to animal experiments in education and training will bring together animal campaigners, policy makers, curriculum developers, scientists, teachers, laboratory technicians and students.

The importance of this seminar jointly organized by Africa Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), and the International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE) cannot be overemphasized as it will present the opportunity for the African continent to learn about and help implement such alternatives to the harmful use of animals. The seminar will as well support existing African initiatives for humane education and interest in better training for life and health science professionals.

The seminar will present the pedagogical, ethical and economic advantages of humane alternatives to animal experiments and the dissection of purpose-killed animals in education and training. Disciplines covered will include zoology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, clinical skills and surgery. A wide range of alternative tools and approaches – from computer software to training mannekins and simulators – will be described and demonstrated.

Many such seminars, conferences and training events have been successfully held in locations around the world by InterNICHE in collaboration with universities, partner organizations and networks, but this will be the first of its kind in Africa.

The event comes against a backdrop of high level consultations within the top ranks of the Kenyan government concerning the practice of experiments on animals. While this appears coincidental, the Kenya government consultations sparked by a letter from the International Convention to Ban the Practice of Experiments on Animals will definitely give unprecedented impetus to the Seminar on 23rd- 24th September, 2009.

The Depository of the Convention undertaken 29th September 2008 is intended to avoid cruelties on Animals, derived from scientific experiments. In the communication to the 192 Member States of the United Nations, the Depository describes adhesion to the Convention as a collective effort to reduce the sufferings of animals and improve a new concept of moral and ethical scientific research.

So far, the convention has been undersigned by the Intergovernmental University Institute of Cooperation (IUIC), International Center for Food Micro-algae (ICFAM), and the Intergovernmental University (IGU), Intergovernmental Organizations with treaty making-capacity, committed to enhance ethical experimental research.