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Commemoration of the Union Day at NIMR Muhimibili CYSTNET Africa dissemination meeting in Iringa and Chunya district councils Towards the commemoration of 59 years of Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, NIMR Muhimbili has disseminated the research findings as part of its contribution to the government’s efforts in solving the health problems of the Tanzanians. The dissemination meetings were attended by the council health management teams and hospital staff members from Two councils (Iringa DC and Chunya DC). The aim was of the meeting was to brief the participants on the findings from the project with the acronym ‘CYSTNET Africa’ that focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Neurocysticercosis (pork tape-worm cysts in the brain) in their respective councils to control epilepsy which is the major problem in the two councils. Participants appreciated the work implemented by NIMR Muhimbili whose findings were regarded as an eye opener to them. They learnt the relationship that exists between epilepsy and Taenia solium (pork tape worm) complications. They promised to utilize the findings to educate their communities, including proper use of latrines and safe preparation of pork meat. Participants from Chunya, posed for a group photo. The Regional Medical officer of Mbeya (Dr. Maisara Karume -sitting at the middle) attended fully in the dissemination session of Chunya. Some of the facilitators of the dissemination meeting getting prepared for the session Group photo of the Iringa participants Participants of the dissemination included Ms Shakila Kiwanga (Councilor of Kalenga Ward_Left and Dr. Donald Maziku, Medical Officer In-charge of Tosamaganga DDH- Right) Dissemination meeting at Iringa was officially opened by the District Medical Officer for Iringa DC (Dr. Samuel Marwa- Standing) The timing of the dissemination was also meant to show the contribution of NIMR to the government’s efforts to solve the health problems of the communities. This goes hand-in-hand to signify the commemoration of the 59 years of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar under the theme “Umoja na Ushirikiano Ndiyo Nguzo ya Kukuza Uchumi Wetu”.

Commemoration of the Union Day at NIMR Amani In commemoration of the Tanganyika and Zanzibar Union Day, today (26th April) from 06:00 – 10:00am, staff from NIMR Amani Research Centre cleaned hospital environment at Ubwari Health Centre which formerly was under NIMR and now operates under Muheza District Council. NIMR staff were joined by staff from Muheza College of Health Sciences, Ubwari Health Centre and Muheza District Council. EVENT GALLERY In the commemoration of the 59th Union celebration, staff from NIMR Amani centre, supported by staff from Muheza College of Health Sciences, Ubwari Health Centre and Muheza District Council, are performing disease diagnosis and counselling free of charge to the residents of Muheza District. This outreach activity which targets Malaria, LF and NCDs, is conducted at the grounds of Ubwari station of NIMR Amani Centre from 10:00 am to 6:00pm.  The turn up is very good, and clients found with health problems are given medicine and/or medical advice. EVENT GALLERY

NIMR Researchers win an award for research excellence A team of NIMR researchers led by Dr. Safari Kinung’hi of NIMR Mwanza Centre and their American research collaborators at Emory University lead by Dr. David Civitello have jointly won the Ecological Society of America George Mercer Award 2023 for research excellence. Other NIMR researchers who participated in the study include Dr. Teckla Angelo, Mr. Moses Mahalila and Ms. Jenitha Charles. The award was jointly awarded to the Tanzanian and American teams in recognition of outstanding research work on schistosomiasis due to their joint study titled “Transmission potential of human schistosomes can be driven by resource competition among snail intermediate hosts” which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in February 4, 2022. The study used a combination of theoretical modeling, mesocosm experiments in artificial water bodies and field surveys to demonstrate that transmission of schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease prevalent in Tanzania and other tropical countries can be driven by resource competition among snail intermediate hosts in local transmission sites in the Mwanza region and surrounding areas. The study is the first of its kind to demonstrate how the size of a freshwater snail population affects its schistosome parasite transmission potential, a finding with direct relevance for disease control. The study further advanced the understanding of the ecology and transmission dynamics of schistosomiasis in Tanzania and other endemic countries revealing that intraspecific competition for resources is a key driver of disease transmission.  To read more about the ESA awards, please visit HERE