A new study that is set to commence in early 2023, Pneumococcon study, organised a three-days protocol training from 13 to 16 November 2022 at Moneymen in Blantyre.

The Principal Investigator for the study Dr. Brenda Kwambana said the training was for the team members to go over various aspects of the study such as fieldwork, laboratory, analytics, ethics, safeguarding, and health and safety.

“I am very certain that this training has given them confidence and has made them conversant with the study and how they will handle challenges during the study,” Kwambana said.

The Pneumococcon study is a randomised control clinical trial to understand how Pneumococcus is transmitted across individuals within households. The study also seeks to investigate whether children less than five years are the primary transmitters of vaccine-type Streptococcus Pneumonia to newborns that are too young to be vaccinated.

The study will be conducted in Blantyre Malabada and Mdeka because they have large birth cohorts and structures to support them.

A Fieldworker Research Assistant of the study Asante Khanje said the training will help him to overcome challenges he is likely to face in the field.

“I came out of the training more knowledgeable than before. For example, the training has sharpened my skills and enhanced my understanding of the dynamics of safeguarding, health, and safety, and ethics which will make a positive lasting impression on the study and organisation at large.

The study will also give out a single boost for PCV 13 which will reduce the chances of children passing Pneumonia to newborn babies.

Speaking after delivering a lesson on ‘Safeguarding Policy’, MLW’s Safeguarding Officer Eliza Mkutumula said going through this training will help the study to complete its work within the set timeframe as there will be no delays due to inconveniences caused by lack of knowledge regarding necessary policies.