Research and control workshop in Niger

Schistosomiasis and STH workshops are being held in Francophone Africa

In collaboration with the Research Network for Schistosomiasis in Africa (RSNA) and WHO’s TDR (Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases), the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI) organised a three day workshop in Bamako, Mali. The workshop focused on schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth control and research in Francophone Africa. With the assistance of Mali’s National Public Health Research Institute (INRSP) and the Ministry of Health’s National Schistosomiasis Control Programme (PNLSH) the workshop hosted researchers, national coordinators and international experts from over 12 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Denmark, France, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Switzerland, Togo and the United Kingdom).

The workshop took place from the 2-5 July 2008 at the Nord-Sud Hotel in Bamako and both the Minister of Health and the Malian WHO representative presided over the opening ceremony. The aim of the workshop was to reinforce cooperation and collaboration between francophone African countries for the control of and research into schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths. The objectives of the workshop included updating national coordinators and research scientists on current research and control activities throughout the region, identifying collaboration mechanisms to facilitate information exchange, and identifying areas where more research is necessary in order to improve control.

The workshop commenced with presentations from different countries covering topics such as preventative chemotherapy, transmission, disease epidemiology, efficacy of Praziquantel, the use of ultrasound to detect morbidity, longitudinal monitoring and surveillance, mixed infections, capacity building. Attendees were then split into two working groups – research and control – to develop joint goals and objectives for future schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths.

Overall, the workshop was a success. Francophone researchers and national coordinators were able to exchange ideas and learn from each other. The lessons learned from the workshop will ensure best practices are used in each of the countries, will empower national coordinators and researchers to successfully run large-scale control programmes, and ensure that collaboration between the countries continues. Feedback was very positive. Both SCI and RSNA are proud to have been able to work with the Ministry of Health and WHO-TDR to organise such a workshop.