Addressing the Problem of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

Today, the world’s greatest concentration of poverty occurs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Previous studies indicate that the NTDs are widespread among the poor in SSA, with the most common NTDs, such as schistosomiasis, the soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, lymphatic filariasis (LF), trachoma, and onchocerciasis together affecting more than 500 million people. Because of their adverse effects on child development, pregnancy outcome, and agricultural worker productivity, the NTDs represent a major reason why the ‘‘bottom 500 million’’ people in SSA cannot escape poverty. Therefore, new and ongoing efforts to control and eliminate the NTDs represent key elements for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To contribute towards addressing NTDs the Centre is collaborating with the Imperial College London, Natural Histry Museum of London, National Health Research Institute of Tanzania on a project entitled “WISER-Water Infrastructure for Schistosomiasis-Endemic Regions”. WISER is a three-year research programme led by Dr. Michael Templeton, in collaboration with the groups of Dr. Feleke Zewge at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Dr. Safari M. Kinung’hi at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, Dr. Aidan Emery at the Natural History Museum in London and Pr. Paul Freemont at Imperial College London.
It aims to address the gaps in critical knowledge of schistosomiasis control through a collaboration between water engineers, synthetic biologists, parasitologists and social scientists in the UK, Ethiopia and Tanzania, in the hope of developing invaluable new knowledge and tools to guide the design of sustainable water infrastructure for schistosomiasis-endemic regions.
The research objectives are to:

• Determine the effectiveness of water treatment processes at removing or inactivating cercariae in water samples collected from endemic regions of Ethiopia and Tanzania, capturing a range of water quality conditions (e.g. pH, temperature, turbidity, colour). The treatment processes will be chlorination, sand filtration and ultraviolet disinfection, the latter by low and medium pressure mercury are discharge lamps, light-emitting diodes, and solar disinfection. The processes will be tested individually and in combinations.
• Develop and validate a rapid and cheap biosensor for detecting cercariae in water samples using synthetic biology. Apply this to measuring cercariae in water samples collected from the study regions and in the water treatment trials described in the first objective to aid in the assessment of cercariae occurrence in water bodies and removal/inactivation effectiveness.
• Using the treatment data gathered by addressing the first two objectives and considering the relevant non-technical, i.e. social and economic factors (e.g. costs, maintenance requirements, local education/training needs, gender and class equity issues), develop design guidelines and recommendations for appropriate, sustainable/affordable, and equitable water infrastructure for communities in schistosomiasis-endemic regions of Africa

Further goals of this collaboration are to:

• Disseminate the resulting recommendations to as wide an audience as possible, including as many relevant stakeholders and end-users in the two partner ODA countries (Ethiopia and Tanzania) and beyond, including regional ODA countries that are schistosomiasis-endemic
• Grow the existing research capacity at Addis Ababa University through bespoke training in research and transferable skills, and develop curriculum for new modules relating to water and wastewater engineering.
• Communicate the research findings in UK schools and to the public via the Imperial Festival and Fringe events, as outreach activities to promote the importance of STEM subjects in addressing global challenges.

Primary organisation

• Imperial College London

Partners

• Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
• National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania