THE Department of Health (DOH) officially recognizes the UP Manila National Institutes of Health’s National Training Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity (NTCBB) as a training provider for biosafety and biosecurity during this Covid-19 pandemic in the Philippines through a Department Circular 2020-0173.
 
The training of laboratory personnel in biosafety and biosecurity is a requirement by the DOH in the accreditation of COVID-19 testing laboratories. NTCBB launched the “BEAT Covid-19 Program,” an online Biosafety Education and Awareness Training (BEAT) for laboratory personnel handling SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). This initiative is one of NTCBB’s responses to the ongoing public health crisis, being the nation’s source of relevant information and expertise related to the practice of biosafety and biosecurity in the Philippines. 

Seven online modules composed of the core principles of biosafety and biosecurity have been designed that have live panel discussion for the question and answer sessions. The modules can be accessed anytime from April 14 to May 4, 2020, to allow participants to take the course at their own pace. 

The course utilizes distance learning education by providing updated and relevant materials that are essential to the current

Covid-19 response. Subject matter experts moderate online discussion forum. The participants are evaluated based on their performance in the quizzes and final exam. A certificate of completion is given to the participants who passed the assessments and have complied with the requirements.

In its pilot implementation on March 31-April 6, 2020, to date a total of 1,552 participants have been able to complete and pass the exam. Participants consisted of medical technologists, faculty members, researchers, physicians, microbiologists, chemists, and others who came from various regions of the country and some were from abroad. 

Through the BEAT Covid-19 program, NTCBB will continue its commitment to biosafety advocacy, leadership, training, and development of applicable biosafety standards tailored to the capacity of the country. For more information about the training, please visit NTCBB website and Facebook account.
 

Dr. Rohani Cena and Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-De La Paz  |  Published in UP Manila Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 2