Our Criteria for Site Selection
The presence of Anopheles mosquitoes
Geographic and environmental features that limit mosquito dispersal
Restricted movement of genetic material between target and non-target mosquito populations
The geographic and genetic isolation criteria are best satisfied on oceanic island sites and our initial review of 15 islands across Africa identified two candidate sites where we are currently conducting baseline data collections and engagement.
Read more about our field site selection process HERE.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED
ISLANDS
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São Tomé and Príncipe -
Comoros Islands
The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) is located in the Gulf of Guinea about 300 kilometers off the western equatorial coast of central Africa. The archipelago consists of two main islands located ~174 km apart. The island of São Tomé is home to 95% of the entire population of ~211,000. STP was a former Portuguese colony and achieved independence in 1975. It is the second smallest island country in Africa, and the smallest Portuguese-speaking country.
Malaria is endemic to STP and risk is high throughout the year. The incidence rate of malaria has remained relatively low over the last decade because of national malaria control programs. However, incidence rates have been slowly increasing since 2014.
Dra. Adionilde Aguiar dos Santos
Chief of Agua Grande Health District / UCIMI Project Consultant
Dr. Herodes Rompao
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP) Coordinator
Dr. Carlos Bandeira D’Almeida
Director of the National Center of Endemic Disease
Ministry of Health
Rafael Vaz da Conceição
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Entomologist
João Viegas D ́ Abreu
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Entomologist
Anastácio Tomás Pires
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Statistics Technician
Albano Lima
Center for National Endemic Disease
Nurse Supervisor
Osmar Fernandes
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Statistics Technician Supervisor
Evandro Gomes
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Entomologist
Isac Wil
Communications Technician, National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
UCIMI has developed an important collaborative relationship with colleagues in Portugal at the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa. IHMT will be working with UCIMI to provide research and training programs for our partners in STP.
João Pinto
Dr. João Pinto is Assistant Professor and Head of the Medical Entomology Unit of the Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa. His research interests focus on the bioecology and genetics of mosquito vectors of disease with emphasis on Afrotropical malaria vectors. He has over 20 years of experience conducting field work and training actions in Africa. Dr. Pinto will lead field operations on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, participating in field collections and implementing training and capacity building activities.
The Union of the Comoros consists of a group of islands at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean. They lie between Madagascar and the southeast African mainland, about 290 kilometers off the eastern coast of Africa. The islands gained independence from France in 1975, and French is the administrative language of the islands. The Comoros comprises three main islands: Grande Comore (Ngazidja), Mohéli (Mwali), and Anjouan (Nzwani). A fourth island in the archipelago, Mayotte (Mahoré), is claimed as national territory of the Comoros but remains under French administration. Grande Comore is the largest of the islands and houses the capital, Moroni. The Comoros is the third-smallest African country by area and has a total population of ~830,000. Malaria is endemic on the islands and risk is high throughout the year. Incidence rates were greatly reduced in 2014 as a result of national malaria control strategies. However, incidence rates have been steadily increasing since 2016.
Dr. Affane Bacar
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Coordinator
Toilibou Ali
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Vector Control
Dra. Yssouf Amina
National Malaria Control Program (PNLP)
Technician
Dra. Amina has a PhD in Health Biology specializing in Infectious Diseases from the University of Aix-Marseille, France. She has worked with the PNLP since 2003 and is experienced in malaria vector control strategies. She is currently responsible for entomological surveillance and laboratory studies such as monitoring for insecticide resistance in malaria vectors. She has extensive experience in both the field and laboratory and has assisted in leading the UCIMI field entomology team in field collections throughout the Comoros.