Mon Aug 2: COMMUNITY HEALTH AND ZOONOTIC DISEASE

7:00 am: Breakfast

7:30 am:  Depart for Ifakara

8:30am-12:00pm: Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) Visit

Leads: Mr H. Urassa, Dr. Boniface Jullu and IHI Staff

IHI is an autonomous, non-for-profit organization registered in Tanzania dealing with health research. The mission of IHI is “to develop and sustain a district-based health research and resource center capable of generating new knowledge and relevant information for public health policy and actions. We were taught about health interventions in the community for malaria, TB and HIV and tour the IHI laboratories. Innovative approaches to HIV control, including incentivizing (paying) people to stay disease-free were discussed. I found the most interesting part of the tour to be the mosquito farm, where they raise mosquitoes for malaria research. 

12:30 pm: Lunch in Ifakara

1:30-2:30 pm: Bovine Tuberculosis in Africa

Presenter: Rudovick Kazwala, SUA

Prof. Kazwala explained the history of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in Africa and detailed

what we know to date regarding the significance of BTB in wildlife, livestock and human

populations. He highlighted current BTB research projects in Tanzania and discussed the

development of the African Bovine Tuberculosis Network.

2:45 – 3:45 pm: Rabies in Tanzania: Initiatives to control rabies for improvement of human and animal health

Presenter: Rudovick Kazwala, SUA

Kazwala provided an overview of the impact of rabies in developing countries and

highlighted an exciting new initiative aimed at eradicating rabies from Tanzania. 

4:00 – 5:30 pm: Case Discussion: Integrated Ecosystem Management of the Kilombero Valley Floodplain Ramsar Site

Presenter: Panteleo Munishi, Professor of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Nature

Conservation, SUA

In 2000 Tanzania ratified the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands, which stipulates wise use of wetland resources, maintaining the ecological character of the site while contributing to people’s livelihoods. Munishi discussed his work in the Kilombero Valley Floodplain Ramsar site, which contains nearly 75% of the world’s population of wetland dependent Puku antelope. We got to view the wetlands and discuss the issue of agricultural conversion for biofuels.  

5:45 – 6:45 pm:  Travel back to Udzungwa Dipa Lodge

7:00 pm: Dinner (Dipa)

Evening: After watching an absolutely stunning sunset, I went swimming with a few of the other students in the gorgeous pool before heading to bed.