Undana and University of Miyazaki, Japan, Train Rabies Diagnostics in East Nusa Tenggara
Kupang — Nusa Cendana University (Undana) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, has partnered with experts from Japan’s University of Miyazaki to enhance rabies diagnostic capacity in the region through a laboratory training programme for animal health workers.
Undana Rector Prof. Jefri S. Bale told journalists in Kupang on Tuesday that the Rabies Diagnostic Training Programme is being conducted through collaboration between Undana’s Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (FKKH) and the Centre for Animal Disease Control (CADIC) at the University of Miyazaki to improve the capacity for detecting rabies virus in animals.
“This international collaboration represents a strategic step in addressing animal health challenges that directly impact human safety,” he stated.
He explained that the training is not merely a transfer of knowledge, but rather part of Undana’s commitment to meeting community needs in rabies control, which remains a significant challenge in East Nusa Tenggara.
Dr. Christina Olly Lada, Dean of FKKH Undana, described the training as a continuation of academic cooperation between FKKH Undana and CADIC at the University of Miyazaki, which has been ongoing since 2022.
She noted that strengthening diagnostic capacity is essential for supporting rabies surveillance and control systems more effectively in archipelagic regions such as East Nusa Tenggara.
“We appreciate the support from experts in Japan in strengthening research and diagnostic capacity in animal health. We hope that faster and more accurate detection capabilities will accelerate field response,” she said.
Prof. Ayako Yoshida, Director of CADIC at the University of Miyazaki, stated that her institution is bringing extensive experience in animal disease diagnostic training from Japan to share with researchers and animal health workers in Indonesia.
In addition to Yoshida, the training features Prof. Kentaro Yamada, a veterinary public health expert, and Dr. Akitoyo Hotta, a researcher from the Japan Institute for Health Security.
Participants receive not only theoretical instruction but also hands-on practice in rabies diagnostic techniques at the Veterinary Laboratory of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Livestock Service.
The training programme, which runs until 13 March 2026, involves collaboration between Undana academics, international experts, and the Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of the Veterinary Laboratory of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Livestock Service.