The University of Hargeisa has successfully conducted its first-ever hands-on workshop on PCR and qPCR techniques for molecular malaria diagnostics, marking a significant milestone in advancing biomedical research and diagnostic capacity in Somaliland.

The training was delivered through the University’s newly established Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory (VBD Lab), which is now fully equipped to support advanced molecular diagnostics and PCR-based research workflows. The workshop provided participants with practical experience in modern laboratory techniques used for the detection and study of malaria and other infectious diseases.

This achievement was realized in collaboration with the Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM) at the University of Copenhagen under the Building Stronger Universities (BSU IV) Project. The initiative was made possible through the generous support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Danida Fellowship Centre, whose partnership continues to strengthen research capacity, innovation, and public health development in Somaliland.