Impact of three years training on operations capacities of research ethics committees in Nigeria.

This paper describes a three-year project designed to build the capacity of members of research ethics committes to perform their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively. The project participants were made up of a cross-section of the membership of 13 Research Ethics Committees (RECs) functioning in Nigeria. They received training to develop their capacity to evaluate research protocols, monitor trial implementation, provide constructive input to trial staff, and assess the trial's success in promoting community engagement in the research. Following the training, technical assistance was provided to participants on an ongoing basis and the project's impacts were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results indicate that sustained investment in capacity building efforts (including training, ongoing technical assistance, and the provision of multiple tools) improved the participants' knowledge of both the ethical principles relevant to biomedical research and how effective REC should function. Such investment was also shown to have a positive impact on the knowledge levels of other RECs members (those who did not receive training) and the overall operations of the RECs to which the participants belonged. Building the capacity of REC members to fulfill their roles effectively requires sustained effort and investment and pays off by enabling RECs to fulfill their essential mission of ensuring that trials are conducted safely and ethically.

The Abuja +12 declaration: implications for HIV response in Africa.

Heads of State and Governments of the Organization of African Unity now the African Union (AU) met in April 2001 at a Special Summit held in Abuja to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other related infectious diseases in Africa. In May 2006, at the Special Summit under the theme: "Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services by 2010", the African Union Heads of States and Governments adopted the "Abuja Call for Accelerated Action towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services in Africa" and related commitments thus reaffirming earlier commitments. In July 2013, African leaders once again gathered in Abuja for the Abuja +12 summit, which focused on the theme 'Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa: Past, Present and the Future'. At the meeting, African leaders noted the tremendous progress that has been made in addressing HIV and AIDS, and made further commitments to effectively tackle the HIV epidemic on the continent. This article presents a critical look at each of these commitments and makes recommendations that would assist African countries in developing policies to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region.