Malaria and Health in Northern Tanzania

project summary

The work done as part of the Joint Malaria Programme, which is an umbrella for research activities involving scientists from National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Tanzania and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College (KCMC), Tanzania, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, and Centre for Medical Parasitology (CMP), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Work is being done from Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean, but many of the activities are based in Korogwe Hospital, where a new research facility was opened in 2008. CMP is involved in vaccine testing, drug resistant monitoring, and work to characterize the interaction between the malaria parasite and the human host. The work in Tanzania is essential for CMP strategies as it links the laboratory-based activities in Copenhagen with the harsh realities of a malaria-endemic region. Danida research council has funded malaria monitoring and research in Northeastern Tanzania during the last 10 years. The activities are facing a funding gabin 2012 due to the funding circle in Danidas research council, which did not allow for us to apply for continuation of our activities at the 2011 funding round. During the last years we have witness and documented a marked decline in malaria transmission in the area. This decline has markedly improved the health status especially among children and it is very important that we continue this monitoring. The monitoring also constitutes an early warning system if transmission increase or the parasites develop resistance against the new anti-malarial drugs. The activities include: 1) Monitoring of malaria incidence in two villages (Mkokola and Kwamasimba) in Korogwe district, 2) A demographic surveillance system covering 14 villages and 24.000 individuals, 3) Monitoring and clinical characterization of all children admitted with intension to treat for malaria at Korogwe district Hospital, and 4) Monitoring of malaria in all women giving birth at Korogwe Hospital