Enreca Health > Research Projects > Malaria & Filariasis
Tanzanian-Danish Collaborative Research and Training Programme on Malaria, Filariasis, and Health Systems Research
Period
1992-2004
Main Collaborating Institutions
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania
- Amani Research Centre, Tanga Region
- University of Daar es Salaam
- Institute for Public Health, University of Copenhagen
- The State University Hospital (Rigshospitalet)
- Institute for Health Research and Development
- The Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen
Principal Project Coordinators
Andrew Y. Kitua, Director General
National Institute for Medical Research,
P.O. Box 9653, Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania
Fax: + 255 51 30660
E-mail: Akitua @ twiga.com
Ib Bygbjerg, M.D., Professor
Department of International Health,
Institute of Public Health Panum
3, Blegdamsvej
DK-2200 Copenhagen N,
Denmark
Phone: +45 35 32 78 35
Fax: +45 35 32 76 29
E-mail: IBY @ sund.ku.dk
Project Description
The project aims at contributing to capacity building at research institutions in Tanzania to enable Tanzanian researchers to take equal part in international and local research. The project has established an interdisciplinary research co-operation in the Tanga region. So far, malaria has be one of the main focus due to its high morbidity and mortality in region and the country as a whole. Furthermore the research covers some aspects of prevention and treatment of lymphatic filariasis which is a heavy health burden in the Tanga region, and finally different aspects of the health sector reform within Tanzania, emanating from locals needs.
The outputs from the overall project will include information and tools that policy makers in Tanzania as well as the donor community can use to make informed decisions on reforms now being implemented in the country and in other countries with similar economic back-ground. The training input will also contribute directly to the improvement of quality of health services in the study districts.
Research focus has been on: The patterns of malaria morbidity in children; therapeutic efficacy of 1st and 2nd line anti-malarial drugs in 2 regions; the effects of the host, parasite, and environmental factors on anti-malarial drug resistance; monitoring the effect of pyrethroid impregnated bednets; morbidity of lymphatic filariasis; and the review of effectiveness of district health services using malaria as tracer condition.
The capacity building in this project include training of Tanzanian researchers at both Ph.D. and M.Sc. levels; laboratory technicians and health staff within the district are receiving regular training and laboratory and libary facilities are receivingt support. The district health team in Tanga is being involved in training and applied field research.
During the 4th and last phase of the project steps have been planned to phase out some project activities and link up others on Malaria and Health Systems research and drug resistance to the forthcoming “second generation” project in Tanzania.
PhD studies carried out in the project on the control of infant malaria have been considered by WHO and in collaboration with the Gates Foundation, WHO is planning a major initiative on Intermittent Presumptive Treatment of Infants (IPTI). The last Ph.D. student Dr. Rachel Manongi is being enrolled at a local university (Tumaini), to explore a new model for Ph.D. studies focusing on local Health Systems performance with emphasis on the referral systems and malaria. A Gates Foundation sponsored Ph.D. study on implementing national guidelines for malaria treatment is to be set in motion by Dr. Aziza Mwisingo.
