More than forty doctors and health professionals, notably sanitary engineers, midwives and nurses, are currently participating in a training session as part of the implementation of a clinical study on onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Akoupé. This training is taking place from 5 to 10 March 2023 at the conference room of the Prefecture of the said town. Considering the importance of these clinical trials for public health, it is with great gratitude that the team of researchers and professionals was able to count on the remarkable welcome and the strong support of the Prefect Mr. KOKORA Patrice.

The Prefect did not fail to express his satisfaction at seeing the realisation of such a project which aims to relieve the population of the scourge of this disease. It should be noted that the Akoupé and Abengourou areas are the most affected by this disease in Côte d'Ivoire. Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness", is a cutaneous filariasis, a public health problem that affects nearly 37 million people worldwide, mainly in Africa and Central America. It is transmitted by the bite of a simulium (black fly) infected with the parasite that lives near rivers. The parasite inoculated into humans lays eggs and develops microfilariae under the skin. Onchocerciasis produces skin, neurological and eye damage that can lead to total blindness.

Death to Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis (DOLF) is a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through Washington University in St. Louis. The project sponsor is Medicine Development for Global Health (MDGH).

Project 3002 focuses on the use of Moxidectin for onchocerciasis control.

This training is in preparation for a large-scale clinical trial campaign of international standards. Nearly 6,000 participants will be enrolled and the trials will be conducted over a period of 15 months by Professor Benjamin G. KOUDOU (PI), Professor at the University of Nangui Abrogoua in Côte d'Ivoire and Director of Research and Development, specialist in clinical research and vector control at the CSRS. Prof Koudou Benjamin has more than 17 years of experience as a specialist in malaria and filariasis control. He is a laboratory scientist and researcher working in the fields of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) control, malaria and vector management in Africa.

In 2021, Benjamin Koudou's team was awarded the CSRS-Eremitage for having made a considerable contribution to the field of elimination of neglected tropical diseases and malaria.

This first day of training on Monday 05 March 2023 was led by Mrs Ba Marième from Pharmalys, who spoke to the participants about the history of clinical trials, Good Clinical Practices, international rules and procedures in this area. On the other days of the training, international experts from different fields spoke about drug safety, storage, blood sampling, installation and maintenance of equipment and also informed consent.

The team is supported by Dr. Catherine BJERUM and Dr. Phillie BUDGE from Washington University in St. Louis, an American specialist in infectious diseases who came from the United States especially for this international study. The local team is composed of Dr. Edi Constant, Dr. Olivier Kouadio, Dr. Georgina Angoa from the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire.

AKA