Abstract
The western extension area of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa (OCP) covers five countries: Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali (western part), Senegal and Sierra Leone. From 1986 to 1990, national teams employed by the respective governments have been regularly collecting entomological data on the vectors of onchocerciasis in these countries. As in the initial programme area of the OCP, the entomological surveillance network was composed of entomological sectors and subsectors (the latter are called "operational bases" in the western extension). In 1990, 308 staff in 47 capture teams were employed for the entomological surveillance activities in seven sectors and twenty-five operational bases. They included a national coordinator as head of the teams for each country, a wide range of technicians, and administrative support staff to assist the national coordinator in the overall management of available resources. The national teams worked under the technical responsibility and supervision of WHO/OCP but with no employee/employer relationship between them and WHO, since they were employed and their salaries were paid by their governments. The OCP, however, paid additional lump sum allowances to each worker, as well as daily subsistence allowances when away from their duty station. Vehicles, entomological equipment, office supplies and furniture, fuel and lubricants were provided by WHO/OCP. Despite the difficulties encountered in the field, which were often great, and their lower salaries (compared with colleagues paid by WHO/OCP), the technical workers in the national teams performed well by OCP standards, with results as satisfactory as those obtained by the WHO/OCP teams in the rest of the programme area. The main reasons for the efficiency and dynamism of the national entomological teams are described. The future of these teams after OCP has ceased its activities is also discussed.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Duke B. O., Anderson J., Fuglsang H. The Onchocerca volvulus transmission potentials and associated patterns of onchocerciasis at four Cameroon Sudan-savanna villages. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1975 Jun;26(2):143–154. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Duke B. O. Studies on factors influencing the transmission of onchocerciasis. VI. The infective biting potential of Simulium damnosum in different bioclimatic zones and its influence on the transmission potential. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1968 Jun;62(2):164–170. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garms R. Quantitative studies on the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus by Simulium damnosum in the Bong Range, Liberia. Z Tropenmed Parasitol. 1973 Sep;24(3):358–372. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Philippon B., Remme J. H., Walsh J. F., Guillet P., Zerbo D. G. Entomological results of vector control in the Onchocerciasis Control Programme. Acta Leiden. 1990;59(1-2):79–94. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Post R. J., Crosskey R. W. The distribution of the Simulium damnosum complex in Sierra Leone and its relation to onchocerciasis. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1985 Apr;79(2):169–194. doi: 10.1080/00034983.1985.11811905. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Thylefors B., Philippon B., Prost A. Transmission potentials of Onchocerca volvulus and the associated intensity of onchocerciasis in a Sudan-savanna area. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1978 Sep;29(3):346–354. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Walsh J. F., Davies J. B., Le Berre R. Entomological aspects of the first five years of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme in the Volta River Basin. Tropenmed Parasitol. 1979 Sep;30(3):328–344. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Walsh J. F., Davies J. B., Le Berre R., Grams R. Standardization of criteria for assessing the effect of Simulium control in onchocerciasis control programmes. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1978;72(6):675–676. doi: 10.1016/0035-9203(78)90039-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]