Enhancing One-health Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases related to Climate Change in the West Africa region

Call for Proposal: CA22-0013

Programme title: One Health as a transdisciplinary ecosystem approach for vector-borne diseases in the context of climate change

Project ID: P22-00835

Project Title: Enhancing One-health Surveillance and Control of Vector-borne Diseases related to Climate Change in the West Africa region

Executive Summary / Abstract:
Diseases transmitted to humans by vectors account for 17% of all infectious diseases and are a significant public health concern. Large scale and coordinated vector control programmes have contributed to the decline of the global
mortality attributed to vector-borne diseases (VBDs). However, with environmental changes, including climate change, the impact of VBDs is anticipated to be even more significant in terms of VBD-related hazards, vulnerabilities and
exposure. While there is growing awareness of the gaping vulnerability of the African continent to VBDs in the face of climate change, and the need for evidence-informed policy is understood, replicating theoretical guidelines to evidence
uptake in real world settings remains a challenge.
Extant studies demonstrate the impact of climate change and associated environmental factors on the incidence of VBDs. Context specific validation of the identified indicators is necessary to ascertain their role in disease transmission. In
particular, is the need to find early evidence of climate change affecting the transmission dynamics of diseases and the future scenario of spatial or temporal distribution of VBDs. Yet, many countries do not have accessible
meteorological data and lack a surveillance mechanism for VBDs required to inform public health response to VBDs. Therefore, in the context of climate change, retrospective meteorological data overlaid with biological data may indicate
its effects on disease emergence and spread. When properly analysed, this could provide direction for policy decisions and offer guidance on public health interventions. At the same time, prospective studies generating meteorological and
biological data in hotspot areas are warranted to provide a framework for assessment of impact of climate change on VBDs and for developing a preparedness plan to address the negative impacts. Such information is foundational for
developing effective and locally-adaptive vector control systems and ultimately reduce the burden of VBDs.
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and the Institut Pasteur Dakar (IPD) in Nigeria and Senegal respectively propose a collaborative project on enhancing one-health capacity to anticipate, prevent, and control vector-borne
diseases in both countries. The goal is to jointly undertake a mixed retrospective-prospective research design which offers empirical local evidence that will inform policy decisions on the effect of climate change on disease emergence,
outbreaks and spread in our countries which can be extended to other parts of West Africa. As the impact of climate change on VBDs will be assessed prospectively, we will jointly gather relevant information to guide the generation of
evidence of impact of climate change on VBDs thus providing early warning systems for improved human health and resilience to climate change.
Retrospective data on climate change and VBDs will also be collected and compared with prospective data that will be generated to enhance forecasting for improved control. Through this project, both institutions will engender joint
research and share effective approaches to VBD risk management and health adaptation to climate change, especially targeting vulnerable populations in the West Africa region. Both institutions boast of significant experience in leading
research contributing to VBDs in West Africa from social, biological and environmental perspectives. In Nigeria and Senegal, the institutions have developed insights and tools linking vector biology and epidemiology, including
combining traditional knowledge and academic science in addition to disease-specific findings across a wide range of environments. More so, both institutions have a collaborative agreement formalised since 2018 and have been working
together in VBDs. Exploiting the institutional standing of our institutions in Nigeria and Senegal, will ensure the establishment of a process for the systematic translation of strategies for prevention, preparedness, and response to mitigate
VBD threats linked to climate change.
Furthermore, we propose making inroads in solving critical public health problems arising from the interlink between VBD occurrence and climate change through an innovative combination of activities designed to: (i) improve the
prediction of VBD emergence through enhanced modelling informed by more accurate, efficient, and reliable surveillance; (ii) enhance the capabilities and tools of local and national level public health agencies through training and the
implementation of improved surveillance and control methodologies; and (iii) educate a new generation of public health-oriented vector biologists with broad expertise from basic science to applied entomology to span the academic and
government scientific communities and drive innovation for decades to come.
Our approach will provide real time information on the immediate effect of climate change on VBD dynamics and provide public health teams adequate forecasting information for preparedness and policy direction in both our countries
and the West Africa region so that, collectively, we can make significant strides in the control of VBD. Importantly, in our proposed project, ecosystems will be taken as the unit of study and interventions employing transdisciplinary,
community based, participatory research. Explicit criteria, standards and performance metrics within a social ecological systems framework would be used in operationalizing the One Health approach that would be adopted. We will
explore adaptive management setup as an integrative approach that include the active engagement of the most affected stakeholders in their individual contexts; assuring a strong foundation based on community participation, equity, social
innovation, capacity building and the sharing of best practices. These outputs, including the establishment of a collaborative network of researchers with extensive experience and technical capabilities, represent a resource of incalculable
value.