Schlüsselwörter
(Deutsch)
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Trypanosomiasis gambiense, Trypanosomiasis rhodesiense, Glossina, Menschliche Schlafkrankheit, Prävention, Behandlung, Epidemiologie, Forschung, Netzwerk, Ausbil-dung, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, Tansania, Swiss Tropical Institute Basel
Oeffentliches Gesundheitswesen,
Epidemiologie
Diagnostik
Tropenmedizin
Beziehungen
Ausland
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Kurzbeschreibung
(Englisch)
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African trypanosomiasis belongs to the so-called 'most neglected diseases' which affects Africans in countries which belong to the poorest in the world. The number of epidemic foci, of new infections and of therapy refractory cases is still increasing. WHO and foundations such as 'Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative' or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are aware of this problem and support mainly R&D in diagnostics and new drugs.
STI has a long tradition in sleeping sickness research and a profound expertise in various techniques such as isolation and propagation of trypanosomes, drug resistance determination, or cyclical transmission of trypanosomes through tsetse flies. STI has well established collaborative links to many institutions in Africa and is in an ideal position for coordination and backstopping. Drs. Brun and Burri are members of steering committees and boards of WHO, TDR, PAAT and DNDi. STI is one of the leading institutes in the field of drug discovery and development for sleeping sickness and malaria. EANETT can be used for clinical studies from which the African partners as well as STI can benefit.
The importance of EANETT as a model of a regional network has been underlined by the WHO Sleeping Sickness Treatment and Drug Resistance Network and by the International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC).
The main risk of EANETT is currently its sustainability. The funding situation is such that the core funds from SDC allow the network to maintain its activities but not its research activities. Additional funds have to be found by the member institutions which proved to be difficult during the 1st phase of EANETT. With the increasing recognition of the network it should become easier to attract funds from new donor agencies.
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Projektziele
(Englisch)
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The overall goal of EANETT is to strengthen collaboration in research, training, prevention and control of Human African Trypanosomiasis to reduce mortality, morbidity and the risk of infection and thus contribute to reduce poverty.
1.To assess the prevalence of sleeping sickness, the distribution of T. b. gambiense and T.b. rhodesiense and the risk of overlap of the two trypanosome subspecies in specific regions of the network countries, to enable the countries to develop diagnostic and therapeutic services for such areas.
2.To do collaborative research in the field of drug resistant trypanosomes, the vectorial capacity of Glossina fuscipes strains from different regions of Eastern Africa, as well as in public health of sleeping sickness.
3.To carry out training activities for national capacity building in the field of trypanosomiasis research and control by technical workshops, technical transfers, an Annual Conference, and by individual career development through MSc and PhD programmes.
4.To extend the network to neighbouring countries which are affected by sleeping sickness and nagana and integrate national institutions in EANETT.
5.To increase the external funding from national and international agencies for collaborative research, surveillance or training activities of network partners individually or as a network.
6.To build up an information network to assure and sustain exchange of information within and beyond the network and establish regular exchange with health and agricultural extension services to foster communication of research results to the end users.
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Abstract
(Englisch)
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Research and control of human sleeping sickness in Kenya, Sudan, Uganda and Tansania. Diffusion of results, training
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Umsetzung und Anwendungen
(Englisch)
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A self-evaluation will be conducted during the Annual Workshop. During the 1st phase a system of self-evaluation was introduced which can be explained using the example of the last Annual Workshop which took place in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, October 20 to 23, 2003. During the first two days the various groups from the different institutes in the member countries presented the work of the previous 12 months in the form of a scientific conference. The third day was for evaluation and planning of the next year. Based on the objectives of the 1st phase progress was monitored during the phase and gaps identified. Results of monitoring were used a basis for setting priorities for the future. This system will be maintained. Co-opted members and invited experts will help to guide the network and its members. WHO and ISCTRC (International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control) also act as monitoring bodies. SDC is invited to participate at the Annual Workshops.
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