This was from the 6th-17th January 2025 at the Lambaréné Medical Research Centre (CERMEL) in Gabon
Dr Tchouakui giving a course on Detection and Management of resistance
For two weeks, a team of CRID researchers dispensed courses to a cohort of 15 students from different African countries. This was part of a Master’s program in Infection Biology and Control (IBC), a result of a collaboration between the Central African Infectious Disease and Epidemics Research Alliance (CAIDERA) with the University of Tübingen (Germany) and CERMEL. The session entitled IBC302: Medical Entomology, was part of the 2025 summer semester, and was led by Pr. Charles Wondji. He was supported by CRID researchers during this programme, which included both theoretical and practical components.
The CRID team comprised: Pr Cyrille Ndo, Dr Basile Kamgang, Dr Melachio Trésor, Dr Magellan Tchouakui, Dr Daniel Nguiffo, and Dum-Buo Nnamdi, who was online. The medical entomology module covered several topics, including an introduction to medical entomology; vector taxonomy; biology and role in pathogen transmission; vector surveillance; analysis and interpretation of entomological data and indicators; vector control strategies, global changes and medical entomology, and community engagement in vector control.
Master students in a laboratory session
Celia BAMBA is a Master’s student originating from Gabon. For her, “The course was a balance between laboratory work, field work and theory. The lecturers were solid experts, very patient and the concepts were clearly explained”.“I particularly appreciated the lectures on xenomonitoring by Dr Melachio and Insecticide resistance by Dr Tchouakui. Moreover, I fully enjoyed the fieldwork sessions. Being in contact with the environment to study the vectors’ ecology, biology, and behaviours was exciting. We did many activities like capturing mosquitoes using CDC light traps and the HLC method, larvae collection, and setting traps for Tse-Tse flies which was a new experience for me. As a Masters student in Infection Biology and Control, this training increased the level of my scientific knowledge and empowered me with important skills for impactful research”, she added.
Overall, students were satisfied with the courses they received and felt confident about their exams ahead.
