Poisons centres
Recent capacity-building activities
In June 2010, WHO organized a sub-regional workshop for anglophone African countries to provide training on clinical toxicology and the management of poisoning, and to discuss the feasibility of establishing a regional poisons centre in Africa. It was decided that the issue of a regional poisons centre warranted detailed examination and that funds should be sought for a feasibility study through the Quick Start Programme of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM). During the course of the workshop a meeting was held of the Network of African Poisons Centres and Applied Toxicologists (NAPCAT) to discuss ways for strengthening this network.
In September 2009 WHO provided training on the use of the INTOX Data Management System to poisons centre representatives from 20 countries. This training meeting was hosted by the National Poisons Information Service (Cardiff Centre) in the UK. Fourteen poisons centres who were existing users of the INTOX Data Management System were provided with renewed subscriptions.