Let me know if I can be of use when looking for practical capacity-building trainer on integrated vector management and IRS.

Shortage of medical entomologists

I happened to be in India recently for APMEN-related work, and spoke with a retired previous Director-level malaria colleague about the shortage of qualified entomologists. That conversation was triggered by the recent article by Rajagopalan  (RAJAGOPALAN, P. K. Medical Entomologists-A Disappearing Profession in Public Health System: Indian Perspective. Journal of Communicable Diseases (E-ISSN: 2581-351X & P-ISSN: 0019-5138), 2022, 54.1: 161-165.). Dr Ranjander Sharma (the retired gentleman I spoke with) fully agrees that the current state of entomological skills is dire, and despite the clear need for qualified entomologists to bolster vector-borne disease control programmes, nobody really seems to be bothered very much. This is shortsighted and indeed dangerous especially in view of the escalating trend of mosquito-borne arboviral infections globally. Dengue is the next malaria. As malaria recedes, dengue will take on a much bigger and growing role. Plus there are other arboviruses, and then the hidden and forgotten “other ones” having tick or mite vectors, such as scrub typhus. We really should put minds together and think laterally how we can incentivise entomology as a career and create adequately-paid career paths that reward not just molecular entomologists cloistered in laboratories but also field entomologists…the ones working with live mosquitoes out there where they are infecting communities. Leo Braack

Still on the subject of shortage of entomological skills:

This morning I came across a hot-off-the-press publication “Tirados, Iñaki, Edward Thomsen, Eve Worrall, Lassane Koala, Tito T. Melachio, and María-Gloria Basáñez. “Vector control and entomological capacity for onchocerciasis elimination.” Trends in parasitology (2022)” 

This paper makes it clear that entomological skills are not just in short supply for malaria control, but also for Onchocerciasis control and indeed all other vector-borne diseases. I am not going to relate the whole article here, but here are some useful extracts that kind of sum up their sentiments about entomological shortfalls and needs: “...Entomological expertise for malaria has been on the decline since the Global Malaria Eradication Program. During this time, the establishment of a prescribed, global solution for malaria eradication, based on the use of DDT, necessitated experts to shift from being problem solvers to solution implementers. The high reliance on insecticide-treated bed nets in the past 2 decades has only exacerbated the issue...” They make a strong case for increased numbers of appropriately-skilled entomologists, saying among other things “...the new WHO roadmap on NTDs for 2021–2030 have rekindled the fillip for a much-needed renaissance of African scientists, medical entomologists, and highly trained technicians specialising in entomological research and the transmission and control of VBDs“, (hmmm, personally I do not see much in the way of increased entomological output despite whatever “rekindled fillip” there may have been…we need to do better). And then to add another useful bit they wrote “...This cadre of vector biologists, ecologists, taxonomists, and (field and laboratory) technicians needs to be well networked to enable real change in the capacity of systems to rise to the challenges …They need to grow quickly as leaders with effective management skills to enable an exponential growth in vector expertise, which will permeate the research, government, and private sectors. This will catalyse the establishment of a sustainable cohort of public health entomologists and community health workers who can effectively deliver vector control interventions. Finally, they need to be embedded in high-quality, adequately funded service laboratories, research facilities, and education establishments that have the capacity to offer attractive career pathways”.

Just more and more confirmation of shortage of entomological capacity coming in from all over. Here is a short piece written by WHO on ”

“Empowering health entomologists towards a malaria-free future in Indonesia”

and published at Empowering health entomologists towards a malaria-free future in Indonesia (malariaworld.org)

The article states that “As Indonesia struggles with the persistent threat of vector-borne diseases, a significant challenge has emerged: the limited understanding of malaria vector mosquitoes’ behaviours, particularly in regions with high prevalence of malaria such as Papua. This knowledge gap has led to less effective mosquito control interventions in these areas, urging the need for further research and insights…..To that end, the National Vector Control and Surveillance Unit (NVC&S) of the Ministry of Health (MoH) is working together with WHO to roll out a targeted capacity building programme, focused on improving the skills and knowledge of health workers in high risk regions such as Papua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), East Kalimantan and North Maluku. The goal is to arm health entomologists – experts specializing in disease-carrying vectors – with the knowledge and skills to understand their enemies to curb the spread of these diseases”. Countries recognize the problem, and doing what they can, but funding is limited. Well done Indonesia. APMEN VCWG held its 4th Malaria Vector Surveillance for Elimination two-week course in central Java in July 2023, and in 2024 we will be holding it in Papua New Guinea. Every bit helps.

Please copy and paste this URL below into Google to get to the Course:

https://amca.ce21.com/item/best-practices-mosquito-management