Mali

MALARIA RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER (MRTC)

DESCRIPTION

The MRTC is housed at the Department of Epidemiology of Parasitic Disease, at the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odonto-Stomatology of the University of Bamako in Mali. MRTC’s permanent staff includes over 150 personnel, of which more than 50 are doctoral level scientists. We are involved in all aspects of research on malaria. All work at the MRTC is directed at the development and testing of appropriate strategies for the control of malaria and the reduction of the burden of disease. Ongoing studies include malaria epidemiology, entomology, drug resistance, vaccine development, drug and diagnostics development, pathogenesis and malaria in pregnancy. MRTC has a long history of clinical trials for new drugs and vaccines from Phases I, II, III and IV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The MRTC maintains field research sites in all regions of Mali. Through a thorough knowledge of local culture we maintain superb and long lasting relationships with all of our study communities.

A Local Area Network with up to 200 computers is linked to high speed Internet through a dedicated server and a V-Sat system.

 

WANECAM FIELD SITES

• SOTUBA

Sotuba is a suburban town with approximately 6,472 inhabitants located on the outskirts of Bamako on the banks of the River Niger. Malaria transmission is mainly seasonal (June-December). The entomological inoculation rate is low (<15 infective bites /person/ year). Malaria incidence varied from 1.02 to 2.06 episodes per person per year in 0-20 years (Dicko et al, 2007). Sotuba was used by MRTC for Malaria Epidemiology, Drug sensitivity testing; antimalarial drug clinical trials and malaria vaccines trials. MRTC team has established a good relationship with the local community and maintains the local health and research center of Sotuba. The Center includes a medical examination room, treatment room, pharmacy, waiting room, and two observation rooms.

• BOUGOULA HAMEAU

Bougoula is a suburban district of 6,900 inhabitants, located at 5Km from Sikasso.
Bougoula is located in the Sudanian zone dominated by savanna woodland with tall grass dotted with trees.  The climate is under the influence of the humid forest zone with a rainy period up to six months or more (from May to October or November) per year.
Malaria is holoendemic in Bougoula with a parasite index between 40 and 50% in the dry season (November to April) and between 70 and 85% in the rainy season (May-October).
Bougoula has a health Center. MRTC team has a long lasting relationship with the community.

• KOLLE

Kolle is a rural village near the Niger River located 57 km southwest of Bamako and has 2845.

The climate is of Sudanese type and is divided into two distinct seasons during the year. The rainy season from June to November with maximum rainfall in August and September and the dry season from January to May.

Malaria is the main reason for outpatient visit with prevalence from 40 to 50% during the dry season and from 70 to 85% during the rainy season. Transmission is seasonal with a hyper-endemic pattern during the rainy season (3-4 months).

Kollé has a health center with a delivery room.

The Malaria Research Center of Kollé is well organized with 2 building one for Laboratory activities and one for Clinical visite and hospitalisation. The center is mainly maintained by MRTC team, a local nurse and a midwife.

Kollé has been the main field site for drug trials for more than a decade.