Following several years of research in Campo, coupled with screening and treatment campaigns which diagnosed many positive sleeping sickness cases, the prevention phase to control the vector which transmits this disease has officially been launched in Campo. The official ceremony took place on January 14, 2020 at Campo Beach.
Under the project Partnership for Increasing the Impact of Vector Control (PIIVeC)-, one of CRID’s Principal Investigators, Dr. Melachio, undertook some work on “The Impact of Insecticide Impregnated Screens on tsetse density and sleeping sickness transmission in Campo“. He used as preliminary data all the research results gathered by the team since 2009 in Campo, intended to assimilate the behaviour of the tsetse vector, identify and adopt the right vector control tool to control these flies
According to reports, about eight new cases of sleeping sickness are reported in Campo each year. Though some patients notice the signs early enough and seek treatment, others die and some of these deaths are attributed to witchcraft.
To kick-start the prevention phase of tsetse flies in Campo, a vector control tool named “Tiny Target” has been adopted. The Tiny Targets are insecticide impregnated blue-black screens planted as traps in areas suitable for tsetse development, meant to attract and kill every tsetse fly which comes in contact with them.
“Our people have suffered a lot in the hands of these tsetse flies. It is a great concern as it affects the productivity of the people, lives have been lost too; but we are enthusiastic about this tiny target which has been introduced to kill these flies, we are hopeful for a positive change” says the chief of Mabiogo Village HRH NANYABO NGUIONG Martin.
The project will run for two years and each impregnated screen will be separated from the other by 50 metres and will be replaced every six months.
“After 2 years, we will use results obtained from controlling the tsetse vector with these insecticide impregnated screens as leverage to engage Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, Sleeping Sickness Control Programmes, decision makers and other stakeholders to invest in and intensify the fight against tsetse flies which transmits sleeping sickness in so as to save lives in Campo” Dr. Melachio says
