The Malaria and NTD R/D is one of the directorates established by the Council of Minister’s Regulation No. 376/2016 with the objective of strengthening research, capacity building and networking in the area of Malaria and NTD research. The focus of the directorate is to conduct quality basic biomedical, clinical and operational researches for informed decision making and contribute to the global scientific knowledge.
Malaria, Leishmaniasis, Arboviral and other neglected tropical diseases
Since 2006, the team published over 50 articles in peer reviewed Journals. And more than 6 MSc and PhD level thesis works were done and successfully defended. In addition to the team’s resilience in continuing research and capacity building, it is active in giving fee professional services. In a country like Ethiopia, where over 83.6% the population lives in rural areas with infectious diseases and malnutrition still being public health concerns operational research plays indispensable role. Thus in addition to the traditionally known strength of AHRI in basic biomedical research; our team is proactive and productive in operational research. Leishmaniases are (re)emerging public health problem spreading to new areas previously not known to be endemic. Thus cognizant to the need, using geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) techniques the team developed risk map of cutaneous (Figure 2) and visceral leishmaniasis (Figure 3); identified risk areas and population at risk for use by the control program.
Figure 2: Risk map of cutaneous leishmaniasis developed by Spatial Weighted Overlay and summarized at zone level
Figure 3: Risk map of visceral leishmaniasis developed by Spatial Weighted Overlay and summarized at zone level
Moreover, a work has been done which identified risk kebeles (Figure 4) and temporal determinants of visceral leishmaniasis in Kafta-Humera (Figure 5), one of the most affected areas in Ethiopia to aid planning of more focused control.
Figure 4: Visceral leishmaniasis risk kebele of Kafta-Humera, the map was developed by Spatial Weighted Overlay.
Figure: 5 temporal pattern of visceral leishmaniasis in Kafta-Humera: from left to right Visceral leishmaniasis vs average annual temperature, rainfall and normalized vegetation index.
In terms of capacity building there are 3 PhD and 2 MSc level students working with the team. From the side of the providing fee professional services: the team identified the need, established Leishmania culture capacity and trained staffs at the Bahir Dar, Amhara Regional laboratory (Photo 1).
Photo 1. Team members training the regional staff on Leishmania culture and smear microscopy
As a member of the national Neglected Tropical Disease Control task force, the team was involved in the revision of NTDs five year master plan (2016-202, 2nd edition). Besides the team was part of the technical working group in revision of the guideline for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia 2nd edition June, 2013.
Developed by: Hilinaab