12th World Malaria Day, PIIVeC And CRID Partnership for Scaling Up Malaria
As the fight against malaria intensifies, PIIVeC accompanied the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID) activities marking the 12th World Malaria Day in Cameroon
No malaria day without revisiting the stakes; how far has the fight come, where is it right now and what are the projections to intensify the fight? These and more were answered during the Scientific Day organised by CRID in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme on April 23, 2019 in Yaoundé. The scientific symposium brought to light the Situation, Perspectives and Innovations of Malaria control in Cameroon as actors, stakeholders discussed the way forward.
Speaking at the Scientific Symposium organised by CRID in Cameroon, the PIIVeC Country Coordinator Pro. Flobert Njiokou, emphasized the need for expertise in vector control seeing that 1000,000,000 people get sick and 1,000,000 die each year from diseases transmitted by insects.
As he led the audience through PIIVeC’s vector control efforts, he mentioned that, the decline in Burden of Malaria across Africa has been largely attributed to scale up of ITNs. To help scale up malaria in Cameroon, PIIVeC is funding a 3 year project to identify molecular markers of insecticide resistance in the major malaria vector An. Gambiae and called on decision makers to invest further in research.
Despite efforts deployed by partners to malaria control, the issue of mosquito resistance to insecticide remains a thorn in the flesh. According to research at the CRID, the malaria parasite has over the years become resistant to the Pyrethroid insecticide used in treating the long lasting mosquito bed net.
“There are different types of bed nets but the questions is which one is more appropriate for use in Cameroon? Most recently are the new generation of bed nets known as the PBO nets and according to our research results, these new generation bed nets can serve the purpose more than the previously used nets” Executive Director, CRID Pro. Charles Wondji said to the press
Prior to the Scientific Day, was a CRID OPEN DAY Event on April 23. From different walks of life, over forty visitors including students, researchers and NGO representatives made their way to the CRID’s premises on the occasion of the Open Day event as part of its activities marking the 12th World Malaria Day. Despite efforts to end malaria, prevalence continue to rise and so investing and building capacity in bio-molecular research is a good way to prepare the next generation of researchers to optimise malaria control initiatives.
From the laboratory to the insectary, visitors were schooled on the kind of research CRID is involved in, having the unique opportunity of discovering some research tools, and seeing live mosquitoes.
To some visitors, it was an opportunity to sharpen their knowledge in malaria control tools and evidence based research.
“I’ve been exposed to what CRID is doing in so far as vector control in Cameroon is concerned. At the insectary, we had a very good drill on how live mosquitoes are captured, nursed and kept at a specific temperature in order to monitor their resistance and the development of insecticide treated bed nets. The centre opened its doors to us to see and appreciate how mosquito bed nets can be used in different localities to better fight against malaria and the vector that causes the diseases. It was a very beneficial day for me as a young researcher because it permits me to network with other experienced researchers and build my capacity in the domain of vector control which is a real need in Africa” Says Honore Awanakam, Research student, Yde I University
With a strong partnership, PIIVeC and CRID continue to grow efforts in engaging the public with malaria control tools and strategies.