Built by and for the Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), Elende experimental field station is functional as CRID annexe since August 2021.
Dr. Magellan Tchouakui insulating windows of the huts
The activity runs from July 30th to August 1st, 2021 with the launching of the evaluation of the efficacy of Fludora Fusion on P450-induced resistant Anopheles funestus project. Prof Charles Wondji’s team, made up of six researchers under the Coordination of Dr Tchouakui Magellan and Dr Menze Benjamin facilitated the implementation of this project on site. Dr Agbevo, an expert from Benin Republic joined them and together they tackled the challenges associated to the implementation. Four huts were used for testing the efficacy of new IRS formula on local malaria vectors and a control hut treated with solvent only. Another hut was treated with deltamethrin, another with clothianidin and one other with a combination of deltamethrin and clothianidin also called Fludora fusion. Equipment preparation was done prior to experimentation. Insecticides, gloves, manual aspirator, data recording forms and timers were among the tools or equipment needed for spraying. As soon as the team arrived the experimental station, they started by measuring the different insecticides. After examining the World Health Organisation (WHO) protocol for dilution of the 3 insecticides, the researchers proceeded to calculate the quantities of deltamethrin and clothianidin needed for spraying. This step was followed by insulation of doors, windows and verandas of the huts, thus delimiting the swatts on each wall. They drew on each wall in each of the 4 huts the swatts and the middle of the swatts where the sprayer had to position the lance to make sure that the insecticide covered the whole demarcated portion.
The researcher’s team preparing to spray the huts
July 31st was dedicated to the calibration of sprayers; the establishing of the flow rate. The selected flow rate was 590ml pressure. CRID researchers were trained on the various techniques associated to spraying of insecticide in huts. On August 1st, 2021 after diluting the insecticides, 4 sprayers put on their protective wears comprising of helmet, protective masks, goggles, boots etc. Once the installation of filter papers was verified, spraying began. They started with the control hut, followed by the deltamethrin hut, then clothianidin and finally the Fludora hut. Removal of insecticide residues and the closing of the experimental hut station followed this delicate process. Before leaving the station, CRID scientists double checked that they had properly cleaned the work area, especially the area where the insecticides were diluted. The efficacy of the products sprayed will be evaluated on malaria vectors for about six months. Twelve Experimental Huts have recently been constructed at Elende to test the efficacy of malaria vector control tools. Elende, is a small village of the Nkolmetet subdivision in the Centre Region. It is situated at 50 km South-East of Yaoundé, the country’s capital city. As a remind, CRID possesses a first experimental station at Mibelong, in the Adamaoua region.
