Expert Advisory Committee: report of the sixteenth session, Ouagadougou, 5-9 June 1995

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION JOI Nt PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Officc of the Cltairtttan JOINT PROCRAMME COMMITTEE Sixteenth session \\'ashineton. 6-8 December I995 Provisional agenda item 5 Orrchoccrciasis Con(rol l)rogrtrrrrnc in Wcst Africal)rograrrrrrrc dc Ltr((c co.(rc l'orrctr<lccrcosc c. Afriquc dc l.oucst ORGANISATION MONDIALE DE LA SANTE I .8 .8 ,9 .9 r0 t2 26 26 26 26 26 27 JPC - CCP COMITE CONJOTNT OU PNOCNNMME Burcau du pr6sidcnt JPCl6.3 ORIGINAL: ENCLIS,II September 1995 trXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Report of the Sixteenrh session Ouaeadoueou. 5-9 June t995 CONTE}{TS List of Panicipants Execurive Summary and Reconrmendations Opening of the sqssion Adoption of the agenda Follow-up to EAC. l5 rcconrmendarions Matters arising from the fifteenrh scssion of the JpC Reports on field visits by EAC rnembers Revierv of operational and technical issues Draft Plan of operations for the prrasing-our period (r99g-2002) Other nletters Dare and place of EAC. t7 Adoption of the draft report Closure of the session Pagc 2 5 A. B. (-. D. E F. G. H. I. J. K. dnnex: Rcpon of trre sixteenrrr session of rhe Ecorogical Group JI'C I6.3 Pagc 2 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Membcrs Professor (Mrs) Adenike Abiose, Medical Director, The Nationat Eye Centre, p.M.B. 2267, Kaduna, Nigeria Dr Y. AboaSrye-Atta. Resident Medical Offrcer, Department of Heatth and Nuclear Medicine,Gtnna Atomic Energy commission, p.o. Box g0. lcgon, Accra, Ghana Professor D. calamari, [stituto di Entomologia Agraria, universiti degli Studi di Milano, ViaCeloria 2,l-20133 Milano, Iulie. Professeur A. Degremont, Director, Insticut Tropical suissc, Socinstrasse 57, B.p. 4002 BAle. Suisse Dr A.D. Franklin, 14 lmpasse de la cave des h6rons, 77t([ Meaux, France Dr C. Gantin, B.P.'152, Cotonou, Benin Dr Jorg Grunewald. Institut ftir Tropenmedizin, Wilhelmstrasse 27, 72074 Tubingen, Germany Professor D-H. Motyneux. School of Tropical Medicine, pcmbroke place, Liverpool, L3 5eA,United Kingdom (Chairman) Dr J. Prod'hon. Commission Scientifique no. 5, ORSTOM, 213, rue [a Fayene, 754g0,. paris DrJ' Franlc walsh,80 Arundcl Road' Lytham st Annes, l-ancashire Fyg tBN, United Kingdo.r Professor G' webbe, l.ondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of L,ondon),Keppel Streer, l,ondon WCIE 7HT, United Kingdom World Health Organization Dr K- YanJcum Dadzie, Director. onchocerciasis Control programme. ouagadougou Dr H. Agoua, Vecror conrrol Unit, onctrocerciasis control progranrnre, Kara Dr L'K'B' Akpoboua. vector control Unit. onchocerciasis control programnre, Bamako Dr C. Back. Vector Control Unit. Orrchocerciasis Control prograrume, Bouakd Dr B'A' Boatin. cltief' Epidenriological Unir. orrchocerciasis conrrot progranrme, ouagadougou Dr o'w' Cltristcttscrt. Cottsul(attt. ortcltoccrciasis Control prograrrrrrre. cc^evir Dr N' Dcrtrb6li. tlPi<lcrtti.logrcltl Urrir. ortchoccrci:rsis control pr()grx.l.lc. orr:rg,u<Jtluqou JPCI6.3 Pagc 3 Dr C' Ginger. Manager, Macrofil Cltentotherapy Project. onchocerciasis control programme. Geneva Dr W. Guttcridge. Chairntart. Macrofil Stccring Commitree. wHO/l{e, Ceneva DrJ'M' Hougard. Chief, Vector Control Urut, onchocerciasis Control programme. ouagadougou Dr E .c. o(resen, control of rropical Diseases, Filariasis Unir, Geneva tr{iss L Ravelonanosy, Progratunre officer, office of Progranrnre Director, onchocerciasis C<.,nrrol Programme, Ouagadougou Dr J'[.l.F. Remme, Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases, Geneva Dr r'" sdk€cdli. chief, Devolution Unit, onchocerciasis Control programme, ouagadougou Mr E'J' Senghor, Information and Pubtic relatiors officer, office of programme Director,Onchocerciasis Control programme. Ouagadougou Dr E. Soumbey-Alley. Chief. Biostatistics and Information Systems Unit, onchocerciasis ControlProgranrme, Ouagadougou Dr M. Sy[a, Devolurion Unit, onchocerciasis comrot programme, ouagadougou lvlr J'l'f' Trudel' chief, Administration and Management, onchocerciasis Controt programme, Ouagadougou Dr F.K. wurapa. consurtant, Regionar office for Africa. Brazzavifle ')r L' \'am6ogo. Vector Control Unit, onchocerciasis Control progranrme, ouagadougou tJnited Nations Developnrent progranrnre lvliss Aissarou Ciss6, progra.rnre Officer, UNDp, Abidjan \Vorld Bank Dr Yves Genevier, pubric I{eartrr Spcciarisr, worrd Bank, washington, D.c Food a.d Agricrrrture orgarrizatio, of trre unitcd Nations It'tr c' ciparisse' FAo onchocerciasis Technical secretary, Rural Development and AgrarianReform Division (SDay, Rome Othcr participauts Dr J' Antartkwa. Gltarta Dcvolutiort coordirutor. oncho National rearu. Navrongo, Ghana l)r L' Assogba. Natitlrtal ortclto coordiruror, oncho Natiorul reanr. parakou. Benin JPC I6.3 Page 4 Dr J. Cabor6, National Oncho Coordinator, Oncho National Team. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Dr Mamc Cor N'Dour, National Oncho Coordinator, Orrcho National Team, Thids. Senegal Observer Dr T.D. logovi, Resident Representative, Helen Keller International, Ouagadougou Dr B. Philippon, Directeur d6l6gu6, Ddpartement Sant6, oRSToM, paris JPC 16.3 Pagc 5 EXECUTIVE SUMI\{ARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS l' Tlte sixteentlt session of the Expn Advisory committee was held in ouaga<lougou. BurkinaFaso, at the headquarters of tlte oncltocerciasis control programme in west Africa from 5 ro 9June 1995 under the cltairntanship of Professor David Molyneux. Briefing on programme oprcrarions was provided on sarurday 3 June by programme staff. 2' Thc contnlit(ee tvelcomed tlte new Programme Director, Dr K. yarkum Dadzie, to whomit pledged its full suPpo(. EAC also paid tribute. to rhe previous Director of tre programme,Dr Ebrahim M' Samba, and wished him success in his nlw position as Director of the wHoRegional Offrce for Africa (paras. 3g and 39). 3' The inrplementation by ocP of the recommendations made by EAC at its 1994 session wasourlined by the Progranrnre Director (para. 43). {' The conlntittce rvas inforntcd (a) abour dre presentation to Jpc of the reports of EAC onits June 1994 sessiott and ott its EAc Mid-term (Phase tV) Evaluarion ani (b) abour t6ecottclusions and decisiotts of the Joint Prograrnnre committee ar its Deccnrber 1994 session (seesection D). 5' Professors Degritnont and Molyneux reponed ro the committee on their field visits to thePrograrnnre area early in 1995 (secrion E). 6' Tlte conlnrittee. rvas brought up to datc regarding the administrative and financial situation ;[?$r,.Adnrinistrativc costs ltad reduced as trio rtre-nunruer of staff in ttre programme.(paras. 7 ' vector control operations during the preceding twelve months had been satisfactory as hadthe entomological and epidemiological impact (paras-. 73 to 76). progress had been made in theidentification of adults of the various sitnulium donnosum species coriplex - Jy-*..* of a newDNA'based (PCR) tecltnique on which the Program*. "nJ'ir, collaborators *... congratutated(paras. 77 and 78). s. Trre searc. for nerv chenrical rarvicides had ceased (para. g0). 9' Panicular attention rvas given to cenain areas where the epidemiological or e^tomologicalsituation rvas unsatisfactory' Irtsecurity insierra Leone had leJrosuspension of conrrol operarions.Tlte contrttittee expressed its aereentent with tlre planned ..iirlti., in that counrry which dependedo* trre [irrre whe. ocp co.tror courd resu.le 1pa..s. sz to gg). l0' Local transtttission ltad bcctt detectcd i. the Mole and Kulpawn areas of G5aru. Ivernrcctindistribution would be intcrlsified an<i artnuat entonrotogicat studies and regular epidemiologicalcvaluarion would be insrituted (paras. 90 ro 92). I I ' lrt tlte lorver Black volta arca. tnfcctivc blackf'lies possibly enranating frorn foci in Ghanasouth of the ocP borcler ha<J bcen rcponed. The comnrirtee rcconrmended rhat intensifiediverntectitt distribution be undenaken in the area and tnat trre progranrnre contacl the Gtra'aianautltorities to ittstitute ivcrtttectin distribution in the fociconcerned and ocp entomological surveys(Prras' 93 to 95)' Mcattrvltilc vccl,or control should continue on thc Black Votta bclow Fako. JPC r 6.3 Page 6 12. Prevalence ra(es remained high in would continue unril the end of 199'l 96 and 97) 13. The siruarion in Benin near the Nigerian border was reviewed and EAC recommended that rr blacHlies bc identified by cytotaronomy and DNA probe (para. 9g) 17. EAC Group could recommended trat OCp without exceeding the expanded mandate for the Ecological issues (para. I l4). l8' The epidemiologicat evalrration and surveillarrce activities which were appropriately conducted had given satisfacrory resuls; progress had been achieved in the search for acost/effective, field applicable diagnostic tesr (paras. ll6 to t24). 19. lvermectin control had been intensified coveri ng more than rwo million people in theProgramme area and OCp had conducted an evaluat ion of methods of distribution (paras. 127and 128). The Expert Advisory Commitree vrllages in the Dicnkoa basin where ground larviciding pending satisfacrory epiclemiological resulrs lparasl L4' EAC paid tribute to the Aerial Contractor and the pilots for their performarcc during theyear (para. 102). 15' The expected bcneficial and negative effects regarding onchocerciasis control of the plannedBui dam were outlined (para. l0l). 16' [n reviewing the repon of the Ecological Group t]re committee noted tiat overall, nosigaificant environmental consequences of oCP ,.iiuiry could bc detected (para. 107).EAC endorsed the Group's view that ."olo.i".l .oniro.ing, rhorld b. publi.ir.d ,iroro*GEn rhe curren, in,.r.ilffi environmental and settlement issues and in uioairersity pro!o.r.. (para. I l5). EAc noted tha(four srudies on tl]e environmenut impact of different actiriiies ar foui sampling siies in different river systems would bc initiared (para. I l2). le keeping in mind rhe need forflexibiliry to meer varying crrcumsances (paras. 132 and 133) 20. The Commirree would recommend to JpCl6 rhat OCP financial and logistical suopon (o oprcratioru (paras. 126, 134 and 135) until rhe end of programme 2l' Information was provided regarding the detection of recurrence of onchocercal infecrion inZoulu viltage in Burkina Faso and lhe measures ro be taken to conrrol whar might be the firsrinsrance of recrudescence (paras. 136 to 139). 22' The Programnte Director outlined.$1 la-sic conceprs and roots of devolution (paras. 140and 145); tlte Representative of wHo/AFRo infornred rhi conrrrrirree abour rccenr developnre,tsin the Regional office (para. 150) and the Regional Direcror's dccision to fund a rea.r in ocp toestablish an intcgration lirtk betrveen AFRo un.I rll" Participating Countries (para. 150). JPC I6.3 I)agc 7 23. lllc Conrnrittce strottgly crtdorscd tlte Progranunc Direc(or's conccpt of t1e three arms ofdevolution - tools, transfcr and institutiorurlization. Ttris clarity of approach was essential if theProgramnte was to rllove (owards successful devolved responsibility.' The EAc reconfirmed the need to tnaitttain closc dialogue bctwcen tlte various pirties to ensure there was a common approach to ttre diffcrent and contplex issues. Funhermore the Commitree reques(ed that a tinrefrante bc esrablishcd for delivery of the tools setected. 24. Thc recent clarificatiort of the respecrive roles in devolution of oCp and of wHO was rvclconrcd by rhe Corrrnrittee (paras. 142 and I43). 25. EAC requested the Programnte to recornnlend to its next session the choice of a new ficld- roolicable test; to clarify tlte ootentiality of entomotoeical surveillance, .nd@ channels tirrough rvhich devolution tools would reach urget populations (para. lE). 26' Tlte contntittee calted for a clear definition of appropriate rraininq needs; a review ofcountries' strrveillance attd cotttrol services; and suggestions'for oort-oEIfoo]Jin"tion (paras. 146 to 148). 27.oCPrvasrcqucstedtodevctoptlre@(para.l49)andn:aintairr colltacI rvitlr \\/llo attd otlier orgrtttrzations rcgarding chis concept, and the issue of irrteera(ron(prra.150). l8' EAc lcarned rvitlt satisfaction about the progress nrade in the irnplenrentation of thedevolution process (para. 153). l9' Tlte cotttnrittee noted that clinical trials of Anrocarzine were now under way in Hohoe,cltana, to defrnitrvely evaluate its potential as a macrofilaricide. The Commitree was informed ofearly results of high-dose ivermectin and awaited the results of sequential doses. High dosage (g00 Fglkg) had bcen welI tolerated. Developrnent of a molecutar probe ro detect ivcrmectin resisrancein o' volvulur was ongoing as were preclinical trials of uMFbzS. The timeframe forcomptetionof rhese acriviries were providcd to tlre conrmitree (paras. t55 to 162). 30. The Conrnrirrec reircrated irs previous sta(ements regarding the inrporunce of epidemiolo gical rnodelling via ONCI{OSIM. EAC rccommended continued anal ysis of differen( control scenarios :rs rvell as increascd effort to define and the (paras. 170 to 172) in differenr epidemiological situations :i l' Thc Conttttittce rvelcottlecl the contittued collaboration and corrrrnunication be(ween oCI) a'clTDR irr areas of operational research rclatecl ro ivermectin distribution which would bc a keycotllponen( of tltc llcrv A[rtcan Pr<lgratttnre for onchocerciasis Control (ApOC) ancl enhance rleclficicncl'of iverrttectirt dclt'crf in tlrc oCP area in rhe clifferent socio-cultural scenarios (paras.176 and I77). 32' TIte Cortttttittce congratulated tltc Progranrnre on thc rrigh quality of its research outputsrvltilst enlphasizing tltat a change of research emphasis was required as the programme approachedtIrefinalphase.Itrecorttttten<ledtlratocPana reiterated its request for a defini(ive reco^rn,.nd.tion ,frtng appropriate diagnostic tools fordevolutiotl by its tle,rt scssiott including tlte role of ento,n-ologicit rurrililance. ihe prograr.rnc\\'as encouraged to nubliciz.c its rcsul(s and research findingslparas. t74 and 175). 33' Suggestiors were made forconsideration in the preparation of the draft plan of oprcrationscovering the Phasing-out Period (para.l79). 34. Information was provided regarding the new Apoc programme (para. lg0). A. OPENING OF THE SESSION 35' The sixteenth session of the Expen Advisory committee (EAc) was held from 5 ro g June1995 in ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, at the headquartcrs of the onchocerciasis control programmein West Africa (OCP). 36' Immediately before the opening of the sessiona shon ceremony of remembrance was heldand a minute of silencc was observed in memory of Dr Daniel euill6v6r€ whose untimely dearhin June last year had aggrieved all those who had- known him in ocp where he *as sorely missedby his many friends within the Programme. A but of Dr euill6v6r6 was rien unveiled to beplaced within the premises of the headquaners of the programme 37 ' Professor David Molyneux, chairman of EAC. in opening the session welcomed Dr cdlestinGantin who as a member of the comrnittee attended .n iec session for dre first rime. He alsowelcomed the represenutives of TDR, crD, oRstoM, UNDP, FAO anO trre Helen KellerFoundation as well:t 9t yHo Representative in Burkina Faso and tre National onchocerciasiscoordinators from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana ana scnelat. 38' The chairman welcomed Dr Dadzi. T3. newly appointed Director of ocp to wt?om hepledged the full supPon and commitment of EAc and wistrea nim success for rhe furure. Thechairman went on to express the gratinrde of his comrnitt.. io. a most informative briefing on rheProgress and achievemens of ocP operatiors during the past twetve months. The information thusprovided would be of corsiderable help to Eac meinucri in io"uring on prioriry issues during thecoming week. 39' Professor Molyneux oren refened to th-e.recenr appoinrmenr of Dr Ebrahim M. Samba asDireccor of the wHo Regional office for Africa wtrictr^gaC nrembers had tearned about withgreat pleasure' His contribution to the work of the commirtee had always been highly esteemedby its members who wished him the besr of ruck in tir n.*-post. 40' The recently appointed Programme Director. DrYankum Dadzie, srressed rhe imponant roleplayed by EAc in guiding the Programme and assuring the Joinr programme conrnrittee abour thesoundness of its operation. He pledged the full ,uppoi oi,i.'bcp sraff ro the work of EAc. DrDadzie finally paid tributc to the devotion and competence wilJl which Dr s€k6r6li had assumedthe usk of directing the Programme during Dr Samba's "br.n ., from ouagadougou and since hisdeparnrre from the Programme JPCI6.3 Pagc 8 B. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA ::,"ril:t :rovisional agenda, reflected in the strucrure of rhe present repon. was adopted by rhe q2. Under section I{ ("Other nlarters") ttrc Corrrrnirrec rvould trc brouglrr up ro tlate on the r.rcrvAfricart Progratttntc of onchocerciasis conrrol (APoc) givcn irs planrred linkage rvirh ocp. JPCt6.3 Page 9 C. FOLLOW.UP TO EAC.15 RECOMMENDATIONS +3. The Progranttttc Director briefly outlincd rlrc action taken by OCp resulting from recornnrcnda(ions nrade by EAC at i$ June 1994 session i) EAC was concerned (hat a shift of aerial contractor could jeopardize the smooth running of vector control: the OCP AerialContract Committei hacl recently made its recorttntcndatiotl to the Director'Gcneral of WHO and his decision was now awaitecl. Before closure. EAC was infornred tlmt the current contractor had bcen awarded the aerial contracr for ttre 1996-199g period; ii) as tie search for new larvicides was no longer a priority the research conducted byOCP in this field had ceased; iii) epidentiological situation in the Bui area: intensive studies had been undertaken; .this issue would be considered by EAC at its currenr session (see paras. 93 to 95); iv) developnlen( of aeneralized frantework for implementation of devolution activities: the subject had been considered at tlte March 1995 Ope,rtio*l R.se.r.h and StrategyMeeting and a ntedical officer had been appointed as consultanr for thac purpose: v) concerltration - of Macrofil on trials regarding the macrofilaricidal effect of this had been conrplied with and clinical trials of Amocarzine were under way; Gals on single high-dose ivermectin had been completed (paras. l52 to 159): vi) tlte rcconltttendation in the Mid'Term (Phase IV) Prospective Evaluation, approvedby JPC, that OCp ana epidenriological evaluation cease by 1997: rhe National Coordrorort had expressed serious rcserva(iolts regarding this decision which EAC was requested to reconsider attd possibty reverse for eventual approval by JPC in December t995: the. combittation of larviciding and ivernrec(in treatmen(, and ivernrectin control alone. inExtension areas, constituted an integral pan of the operational OCp control srrategy and should tlterefore continue to qualify for full Programme suppon unril the end ofOCP operarions. D. IUA1ITERS ARISING FROM THE FIFTEENTH SESSION OF JPC 4{. The chairrttatl irtforttted the Contnrirtee that the Joint programme Committee 5ad recottfirntcd its suppon to tlte Programme and complimented oCp on tnJ progress nrade and EAC on its intponant contribution to ocP. The reporrs prepared by the progranrme-and EAC were well received. {5. JPC rvas cottcerned about the situation in Sierra trone and expressed ilre hope tSarPrograrrrnre operarions in that couotry courd soon stan again. {6' Tlte Cortltttittee also expressed sonre concern regarding the possibility of resistance ofortcltocerca volvtrlus t<t ivcrtttectin. a rnatter that slrould 6c kept unclcr aonrt.ni revicw. {7' Thc EAc Mid-'l'cflrr (l)lr.se lv) ProsPcctivc Evaluatiorr rcport was lpproved afrcr a tlrorquglrdcbltc' Tltc rtccd l<tr ctltt(tttruttitltt ol'(ttc scarclt for a rrr:rcrrlfilarici<Jc wlrs srrcssctl hy JpC arrcl JPC I6.3 Page l0 TDR was encouraged.toassumc full responsibility for Macrofil opcrations after lggT when ocpfinareial suppon would come ro an end. 48. After the presentation of convincing technical argumens for continuing ocp operations untitthe year 2002 in order to reach the Programme objective, it was agrced that ocp would come ro an end in tlut year. 49- The need for a post-oCP Inter-Country Faciliry (tcF) was reviewed. ln view of recentdevelopmenls in the wHo Regional offic.c for Africa including the change of leadership, ir was concluded that the functions proposed for an ICF coutd be undenak* uy wHo/AFRo in collaboration with other inrcrnatiorul organizations. 50' JPC was informed a!-u1the progress bcing made in establishing the African programme for onchocerciasis corurol.(APoc) to operate in counrries ouside the ocp area. The commitree was assured that the laurrching of that Programmc would not detract donor funding of OCp. 51. A Nigerian observer delegation attended the session and JpC was informed about theprogress made in onchocerciasis control in that country. 52. A decision was taken to hotd a meeting of the Ministers of Healttr from the participating countries during 1995 ro discuss in panicular devolution issues. 53' A cost/benefit analysis of ocP operadons prepared by rhe world Bank was presenred ro r5eCommittee. The srudy concluded orat the Programme showla a20% internal rate of rentrn which compared favourably with other world Bark funded projects even ourside the health secror. 54. Delegates from Participating Countries expressed concern regarding the nuisance of reinvading blacldlies and suggesred ttut this problem be ad.lressed. 55' The committee requested that a draft Plan of operations covering the phasing-oui perioo be prepared for consideration by Jpc arready at is Deiember 1995 ,..s"ion. 56. The Pran of Acrion and Budget for 1995 was approved by the commiuee. 57 ' The session concluded with a testimony ro Dr samba for his exce[ent leadership of ocpduring the past fourteen years. The committee wished him ttre best of luck in his new post asDircctor of WHO/AFRO. E. REPORTS ON FIELD VISITS BY EAC MEMBERS 58. Professor Moly4eux in summarizing his findings from a visit to Ghana from I to 9 February1995' underlined the imponance of the work undeiaken by the onchocerciasis chemorherapyResearch Centre (oCRC), Hohoc. Ghana, in clinical rriali ro elucidate the effect of potenrial macrofilaricides (currently high{ose ivermectin and Amocarzine). 59' Concern was expressed regarding the epidemiological situation in rtre Bui area where focisouth of the Black Volta were exposed to reinvasion froir rhe Tano river basin sourh of rhe oCpborder' An epidenriological survey was rccomnrendcd giverr rhe porcrrriaI lbr rei*vasion.The inrpact of the proposed uui <Jern ort orrchocercal trarsriission ncc<Jcd to bc cvulua(crl trotlr upstream and downsrream of the danl sire. conracG in Ghana to elucidate the situation JPC I6.3 Pdge t I It was suggested the programme develop high level 60' The Asubertde area. now under cortrbined larviciding/ivernlectin control, no longer poseda problem for the Progranrnre. 6l' It was suggested drat Glnna presented- good opponunities for evaluating different sysremsof i*ermec(in distribution given the variety.orepiaemiotogicai siruations and co-ntrol strategies. Inrespcct to dre possible "Tano reinvasion" tltc national autiiorities shoutd be encouraged to instituteinreruive ivernrecrin [rea[ment ar, and around, rtre sources ,"r,h;1.,il oL;;;;.r. 62' Presenting his repon on his visit to Mali, c6te d'lvoire and Burkiru Faso, professorDeeremont stressed ttrat its purpose was. threefoto: to acquaint himself with the srructure andopcratiors of the Programnte: (o review the devolution p.o".rr; and to panicipate in the meetingof ocP wich the Narionar onchocerciasis coordinarors. 63' As regards the overall healo poticy, within which devolution would need to be considered, ::::ll'jii},:i: ron"*har different in the drree counrries artrrough thev were arr moving towards u' In connection with ivermectin control, Professor Degr6mont paid panicular attention todistribution methods and concluded that there could uc io srandard approach but that rhedistribucion needed to adapt to local conditions. rne particip.iion orheakh staff at the district andperipheral levels in decision-maki.ng regarding oistribuiion li.-u,oaologies/channels was essential.For tiese reasons and as conrntunity sel-f-t...r*.nt also required adequ-are ,upa*irion, he stronglyfelt dtat tte move front large-scale mobite to community-baied treatment needed adequate pranningtaking inro account che tinte scale required by rhe .oni*uniits and srrucrures ro be developed. 65' External suppon to dte devolution process, including ivermectin distribution, would be ;:::ffi,3:r::#: tirne to conle' pan of tiris support ;,si;i be crranneued drrough conrmunity- 66' Professor Degr6nront's participation in the ocP/Nationat coordinators, meering allowed himlo get a better understanding of ocP operations in ttre fietJ, the problems encounrered and theintpon'rnt role played by the National coordirntorc in it. successful implementation of theProgranrnre. 67 ' Tlte suggestiotts were ntade tltat future ocP/National coordinators, meetings should beclmired by nationals anct that the nteetings would u.niii, from more attention given topredeterntined issues of panicutar imponance for the conouci of smooth op.r",ion, "t the counrry 68' Tlte cotttntittee rvas informed about tlte effons made to diminish the administrarive costs andtlte considerable reduction irt staff tltat had taken prace dfi; L""n, years. Managenrent seminarswere being held rvitlt tlte panicipation of some roo friolocp sraff and nationat reamadntinistrators to pronlote accep(ance to change. enhance *oti""tion a.d promote leadership. 69' since l990tltetotal nutttberof staffw-orkingforocphaddroppedfromatnrost 100oto750,irrcluding a reduc(iott itt rlte rturrrhcr of staff on rvHolocp'r,r,u. frorn 562 to lg0. JPC I6.3 Page 12 70' Panicular emphasis was ptaced on ensuring that the process of non-renewat of longstandingcontracE' consequential to the reduction of controt operations, was imptemented in as sensitive amaruEr as possible with due regarct to the interests of the programme. 7l' The expenditures on_supplies, operating and capital costs had bcen halved sirrce tg90 fromthe level of us $ 4'2 to us $ 2.2 million in igga. Also. rhe number of vehicles sunding at 3.13in 1990 had bcen reduced by more rhan one fifrh by 1995. 72' As a consequence of strict adherence to a high level of cost/efficiency of conrrol operationscarried out on a decreasing scale, the annual exp"ridin res had reduced from us $ 30.4 miuion in1990 to US $ 23.2 miltion in 1994. F. REVTEW OF OPERATTONAL A}{D TECHNICAL ISSURSI Vector control Overview of operations and their resutts '73' l-arviciding had continued successfully during the period under review as demonsrrated bythe results of entomological surveitlarrce. _Ar 174 carching poins under regular moniroring moretan 9fi7o showed Anntral rransmission Porentials (ATp; lf t.r, rhan 105 latt utacmy speciescombined), while only four points produced eTPs exceiding r00 if non-savanna species wereexcluded. 74' with the gradul decrease from 1993 ro 1994 in river srretches under larviciding, acorresponding reduction took place in the number of flighr hours (12%) and in the quantity ofinsecticides used (14%) as well as in dte number of telebeacons in use. River stre(ches whereIarviciding carne to an end concerned the upper basins of the Nzi river and of the comoe, upper ?ffi,}#:, Mekrou and white Bandama rivers as welt as the Baoule ano e.goe, except the 75' The VCU system of rocation among rhe seven avaitable larviciaes haa now beeninstitutionalized as follows: - at discharges less than 15 mr/sec.: Bacittus thuringierurs H-14 was rhe preferredproduct; temephos and phoxim could be used in cases of logisricat problems; - discharges l5 to 70 mr/sec.: temephos, pyraclofos. phoxim and etofenprox (vectron). each at maximum of eighr successive .ytl.r to avoid resisrance; - discharges 70 to 30o m3/sec.: permerhrin and carbosulfan in addition ro the four jusrmentioned above. but for a maximum of six cycles per year: - discharges 300 to 500 mr/sec.: temephos and permethrin (logistics and cosr/efficiency) - nrore (han 500 nrr/sec.: pcrmerhrin. Irt considcrirrg this agcrl<la itcttt (hc conrnritrcc was brokcn up inro four rvorking groupsdc:tltttg scpitrittcll' \\'l(ll vcc(()r control . <lrug (rc:ttrllcnt. cllidctrrirllogY ilnd dcv.luti.rr JPCI6.3 l)agc l3 16' Due to the currctrl situa(iort irt Sicrra l,conc, larviciding trad bccn discontinued in tlratcoun(ry since April 1994 as had epidcrniological evaluation an<J ivcrnrcctin distribution as frornDecenrber 1994. 77 ' DNA rnetlods had nlade it possible to identify all simutiwn species at rhe Bouak6 laboratoryrvltere tlte ntolecular techniques to idenrify both itackflies and parasites would allow for thedeterntination of tlte truc vcctorial role of each sintuliutrt species for the first tinre. 78 The Programme was congratulated on the recenr development of DNA identification of adultsof tlre sitnuliunt dannoswn species complex which now _allowed for species separation.Dr T' Unnash of tlte university of Birmingham, Atabama, usA, *., .oririrn.n,.o on thisoursunding achievenrent. '19' [n the southern pan of Benin on h:9dtJ and okpara rivers DNA analysis of adult fliesshorved a disagreement between the DNA identification ,na *orphological differentiation on thebasis of wing-tuft colours. Dark wing-tuft (foresr) ni.r *..e iaenrified 6y pNn-pi"bes as savannaflies' Funher studies would be undertaken by ocP to clarify whether these flies were indeedsavanna f'lies transnritting savanna onchocerciasis. 80' The Bouak6 lnsecticide Research Unit (lRU) had ceased the search for new larvicides incortfornrity rvith the decision of the Joint Progranrme commitree. However, the laboratory hadcontinued its attentpts at improving formulatlons or .*ir,in! insecticides. This included worktogedter with Abbot on Vectobac and identification of rhe rolJo f B.t. H-l4toxins in collaboration *'itlt the Pasteur Institute in Paris; liquid fonnulations produced from recombinant srrains were nowbcing tesred. 8l' IRU had instituted [lte ntulti-s(irrer for scrcening which ailowcd for testilg of insecticideson both blackflies and non-targer fauna. ,f*t Areas of special concern 82' As regards tlte situation in Sierra lcone the committee noted that the sourhern part of thecountry rvas characterized by foci of the blinding form of on toc..ciasis transmitted by simuliun ';Xi:::which did not travet beyond that area and therefore did not pose a iirt oir.inrasion into 83' ln tlrc ttortltern part of sierra Lrone, five years of larviciding had resulted in a ggrorcductiott in savaltrta flies on the Seli and Bagbe rivers rrom wltere tSere was no involvement intratuntission' on tlte Kaba and Mongo rivirs there had been no crrange in rhe savanna flylropulation of rvhich only 0.27o were fo-unct to be infective. 6{' After tlre suspension of larviciding there lrad been vinually no change in rhe propo*ion oftlte savanna fly populatioll on the Kaba in<J Mongo and no irrfective savanna blackflies had beenrcponed sitrce Dccet,ber 1993' The 987o reduction in the savanna fly population was maintained :li'i::?lr llff:J'ri.:',j[:*"ctiverv three and on. v* arre. ti'e J.p*;;; or rarviciding lj,;,",,X,;:: il:fi';t":::,.!il::,.ing in Guinea tud prorecte<r trrat counrry rrom inrirtrarion by JPCI6.3 Page 14 86' once the security in thc country so allowed. it was plannccl nol (o resume Iarvicidrng on tlreBagbc which was pro(ected by vector control in cuinea. In the Nonh-west. combinedlarviciding/ivcrmcctin control woultJ resume on [he Kaba, Mongo and Seli areas. In the Sout5,ivermectin distribution would conrinue in well defined hyperenclemic foci. 87. Should it prove impossible, for security reasoru, r.o resume larvicicling in nonhern SrcrraL,eone, ivermectin distribution would be extended ro all onchocerciasis infecteo zones as soon asfeasible. 88. It was planned to intensify ttre collection of blacUlies and parasites in northern Sierra l-eonein order to gec more information on the vectorial role of s. sirbanwn in that area. 89' The committee received deuiled information concerning rhe present and future surus of vector control operations on the Mole, Kulpawn and lower volta rivers. 90. In the Mole are-a, the epidemiological siruarion was satisfactory with the exception of onevillage where in 1992 the prevalence reached about 40% with seven children infected. The surroundings were probably exposed to local transmission. It was decided nor (o conr,inuelarviciding but introduce biannual ivermectin lreatment in the mosr exposed zones. 9l' In the Kulnau basin, the epidemiological indices remained unsatisfactory. Nevenheless, a combined use of vector control and annual treatment with ivermecrin in ....n, yearb lad considerably rcduced tire parasite reservoir. L 92' [t was considered that 6-monttrly ivermectin rrearment would be adequate ro mainrain thisdownward trend and avoid ttre spread of infection to the Nonh-Easr. During this period thepotential sources of large-scale blacklly invasion to the South-wesr would still be under vecror cont'rol' Intensified evah.ntion would be underuken ro determine the validiry of rhis area-specific approach. 93' [n ttre lower Black Volta Bui area larviciding had ceased upsrream from fte Fako river giventhe satisfactory en(omological and epidemiological resuls. on the orher hand, vecror conrrol continued downstream as that area seemed to be exposed to infecrive blackfly invasion from foci sourh of the OCP border. 94' L-arviciding *9,-ld con(inue through_1996 bringing rhe duration of vecror control to 22 years, with intensified identification of the brackfly ana me parasires on the Brack Volra and in the southof Chana. 95' Funherntore. oCP would conucl ttre Ghanaian authorities ro reconrnrend ivernrecrindistribution of the foci of reinvasion located south of the Progranlnle area wirh rhe possibilitl, ofundertaking entornological surveys. 96' I-arviciding in the Dicrrkoa basin was resunled in 1986 but interrupted frequenrty up to 1990when ground larviciding was instituted. Entomologically. high rrarisnrissiori, *.r. observedbetween 1987 and 1989. From l990 to 1994. rhe nTPi raniea be(ween 0 and 40. Ivcrmectin 1a<Ibeett instituted since 1988' The 1993 epiclenriological evaluarion shorvcd a prcvalepce ra.ge oIl0'5 to 3l'67o itt thc six villagcs exatttined. Tlrcre werc new infcctions in adulrs as rvcll as i,children' A subsequent cvaluatiott tttadc in Dccenrtrcr 1994 in scven otlrcr vill.tcs irr tlrc trasirrsltorvcd a prc'valellcc rallS,e of 0.0 to7.7%. lr'k)rc tlurn 50% of rlrc rrrli.crcd 1rcoplc *,crc nrigrarrts.A clrild of si.r vcurs rvas found posirivr.. JPC I 6.3 I)agc I5 97' Transntission ltaving bcen nrairuaincd ar an alrnos( insignificant level sincc 1990. it was ":cotrtmended dtat gr<'lund larvrci<Jing bc continued on rhe Dienkoa up (o (he end of 1997 and t.enrtoppcd provided tlte cpidcntiological situation at tlar tirrre was acceptable. The intensificarion ofrventtcc(in distributiorr sltcluld bc rturirrtairrccl and con(inucd bcyorcl 1997. 98' The EAc also reviewed thc situarion prevailing at Kaboua (okpara) and M'betekoukou(ou6nt6) in Benin' ttear tlte Nigerian borde,r. in view o?. r,igh transmission of savanna parasites,and considering the difference betweert these results ano fre ophthalmotogicat data, the EAcrecommended: a) a parasitotogical survey with DNA identification or microitaiiae: b) a deailedophttnlmological survey; and c) rearing of blacHlies wirh dark-coloureo *in!-ruits in order ro l*"}[ffi';ifffL:eans of 'vtotaxonomv and DNA with a view to a.,.*iiine whether they t'l.'l( 99' EAc rvas inforrned of the results of grotrnd rrearmcnr with rarvicides, carried out by nationalteanu on the Niger river near Bamako under the auspices or ocp. [n general, caution wasexpressed regarding ground larviciding for dre prrpo'r.- or -r,uir"n.e conrrol under the entireresponsibility of national teams. In such cases, onry a.r. H-14 should be used as otherwiseresisunce agai.sr clrenrical products rvas likery to a.u"rop. '' 100' Tlte comrllittee noted tlat during the coming thrce years all seven insecticides would beapplied to reduce the risk of lorvered iusceptibilir! after *ni.n ocp would make use of fourcompounds only. I0l' Inlorntatiolt rvas'provided cottcerning the.expe-cted impact of the planned construcrion of theBui de.r' The danr rvould have'a nrajor bcneficiat Lffect of irowning most of rni .norrnous rapidsupstreanl' Downs(reatn (he dam would lead to a more .r.n *.,., A;ilfio; rhe year witha corsequent increase in blackfly breeding.. Also, it *", a*p.aaad that nuisance control would beneeded during the construction phase and ihe nrog.amme *.l.n orraged to contact the authoritiescottcerned in this connection as ocP contributioi a ,r,. pi.*-ing of the dam to facilitate btackflycontrol was inrponant at tlris stage. 102' The comrnittee expressed its satisfaction with the vec(or control operatiors carried outduring dte year undcr revierv' Tlte contmittee also p.iJ irilr" to the Aerial conrracror and ttrepilors rvhose conrriburion to the success of the Rrogramm. *1, or primary imporunce. 103' As regards rcsearclt, the cotnrttitree ernplusized the importance of continuation of effortsro intprove fornrularions of g.r. I{-14. Re of xt SC ofrhe Ecol ical C IOur) 104' Tlte repon of the sixtecrltlt session of rhe Ecological croup held in Bouake on 26 and3:#I;%"ill'.J: attaclte<l' Tlre report was introducect by tire chairm.n-or the croup, 105' During the joirtt ttteetittg lrc(wcerr rhe Ecological Group (Ec) an<I dre nationat hydrobiologisrspreccdi.g the EG scssiott, ttletttbers of tlre Group *.r.'i,irorn,eo about the panicipation ofItydrobiologists i, a. FAo sctttittar <ltt coruirrc-ntat Fistreries, Aquacrlture antt the Environment in l'ffi,.,-lll,in Ilarare' Zir,babrve, artd itt a course on E,r"iron,.cntar rmpact srudies conducted JPC I6.3 Page 16 106' Membcrs of the Ecological Group expressed satisfacrion with the progress made, and rheresults obtained, by.vector control opcratiors during the preceding twelvi ,intt,, although there1'/as concern about the situation in sierra lrone aue to pioblems beyond the control of ocp. i07 ' A decrease in fish catches was observed in several treated and non treated sampling stations.However, this decrease did not affect the spccies diversity or coefficient of condition or sizefrequency distribution. obviously, the change could rrct bc attributed to the t.*i.iuing but wasprobably due to ircreasing fishing pressure. 108' on the whole, while tlrere had bcen changes in the invertebrare communiry strucrure anddensities of some axa, they had remained within acccptablc limir. It did not ,r,.ilror. segm tharthe entomofauna had bcen directly threatened by ocPiarviciding. Some .threa6- appeared to beparticularly related to the impact of resetttcmcnr and other cxternal facrors on the quality of theaquatic environmenr. 109' The Ecological Group recommended ttnt the national hydrobiologiss stop routine driftsampling; to conrinue monitoring at the present stations; and to carry our qualiarive spot tests ofwater courses where larviciding had ceased to asscss the recoloniratlon poiential. 110' As regards the implementation of thc expanded EG mandare. calling for assessment of t1eenvironmenal impact of resenlement in the oncho-freed zones, the Ecologici c.oup ,.commendedthat full use should bc made of the ocP expenise in ttre estabrishmentlf reseul.*.n plans andin environmental developmeru. I 1l ' National hydrobiological teams should be involvcd in resetdement impact srudies and for thatpurpose select one sice for.monitoring in each couffry. Evenrrrally a tirk should be esablishedberween ocP's effors in this fierd and susainabre aeveropment. ++* ll2' In respect to the proposed assessmeil of the environmental impact of settlemenr it wasexplained that such studies would bc carried out in four river basins: pru in Ghana, Milo inGuinea' sassandra in c6te d'lvoire and Mongo in sierra Leone. variable amounts of retrospecrivedata and information were available for the four areas and the studies would be carried our roesublish a baseline for future assessmenrc. The studies were budgeted for 1996 withour anyincrease in the proposed overall atlocation to ocP ecological surveillance acrivities. I l3' EAc noted the Ecological Group's concern abour the environnrenul inrpact of setrlemenr andbroader development issues and that dre Group had successfully encouraged the development ofnational skills in hydrobiology and related disciplines. As rhe prograirme was coming ro aconclusion' the Ecological croup was concemcd that the skilrs and capaciry of these reams andindividuals should be retained and devetoped in a wider environrnenral conrexr. It was imponantthat the Programme. given its oubtanding environmental record and commitmenr as welt as itsrepumtion amongst Donors as an cxample of an.nri.o*.niiiry rouno programme, should ensurethat this resource be utilized in advising wider environmental and developnrenr issues. I I4' However tlte committee considered (lmt tlrc interpretarion of sections of rhe EcologicalGroup repon ltad tlte potentiatity for misinterpreration. Tire corumi(ree reconlnrended thar w,ilsrit was nccessar)' lo opcrate witlrin the expan<Jed mandate. ttre progranrnre coul<l pronlote, rlrrouglrlinks rvith otltcr agettcies and sec(ors. its envirorunental skills arul knorvledge to co*tribute. n,.cre JPC I6.3 Page 17 Hl#l;:tt' to the solution of wider ertvironnrental and serrlement issues without infringing on its I 15' Tlte EAc urged tlte cSA to consider giving a higher profile ro ilre efforts made by theProgranrme rvith respect to the protection of tne .iriror,ii.nt which reflected grear credir on it.An ex(remely valuable dau bank on the hydrobiological. biJiversity of the west African savannaregion had been accumulated and national skills inire fiela of hydiobiorogy nal been developed.consideration should be give, to publicizing these .cni.r.m.nts, togetheiwith the availabitiry ofdata and national expenise, by the productio-n or"n.fprof.i.i. r.i.n,itica1y sound. and arrractivedocument. Evaluarion I l6' During the year under review epidenriological evaluation was intensified in rhe originalProgratnme area with a view to supponing rhelecision-making regarding cessation of vectorcontrol itt the few retnaining river biiins *itt u.ing ,r.",.i *io larvicides in t.at area. I l7' As a result of the evaluation carried out in indicaror viuages, combined with entomologicalfindings and ntodel projections, aerial larviciding which trai ucln carried out roi up to lg yearswould come to an end in five river basins duririg rggj iiirrp.wn, Mole, Sota, Alibori and Bui(above the Fako tributary)) while ground larvicidlng *ouiJ;ontinue in the Dienkoa basin. I t8. However, ro ensure a sable epidemiologicat situation, which was still in need ofimprovement' ivermectin distriburion would bc intirsifiea in rnort of these river basins. l19' Prospective studies conducted in seven viilages in Guinea since l99z in areas underccrnbined larviciding/ivermectin control continued ,o iho* virtua[y zero incidence rates. pararersrudies were under way in the Extension areas of c6re d.rvoire and rogo. r20' It "vas s(resscd that all epidemiological evaluation activities were carried out by narionalteams with financial and logistical suppon.provided by the programme. euarity conrrol (double-reading by national teanrs and ocP iriro riao a.roni rri.a i t ign level o-f .onror*i,y. Diaqnosric te.srs l2l' The EAc reviewed tlte current satus. with respect to diagnoscic tools for detectingoncltocerciasis ittfectiotr. Tlte skin snip was.still the only *l,noa "riit.ul. rorlurveirrance. butthree new (ools rvere under developmeni. i... i**ufui;;;";i;, topicar diethylcarbamazirp (DEc)patclt test and o' volvutrts DNA detection (scratch teso. -rtre committee urged the programme tocotttplete dte testing of these new diagnostic.tools auring na co*ing year, and to recommend toi(s trcxt session which of these oiagnoitic toots. if ,ny, rfioria uc retainea for furtherdevelopmenrand onchocerciasis surveillance under devolution. i".r.rauiy not more than one of these newdiagnostics should be retained and in selecring fi" .;J;;;r;riate diagnosric. crireria such as thelogistical and irtfra'structural requirentents shoutd ue aren iiro account in addition to diagnosric The Pr.gratttttte Director isconsidcring the possibility of merging cenain activities relevanrto tlte dcvtllutiort proccss. inclu<Jing Jpi.t.,iriotogy .ua iu".,i,".ti,, rrcatnlenr. in ordcr rocttllattcc tltc supp.rt of ocP to tlrc iounrries co,,il.,rc,t i,r ttris irup.fla.t proccss. JPC I 6.3 Pagc 18 potential' The EAC also anticipated that any new diagnostic rool would need to be used for severatyears in parallel wior the skin snip method before it cJuld be decided ,o.orpr.i.li .eptace the skinsnip method. 122' The Programme informed the committee that the available dam on the immunodiagnostictools, which had been collected during field testing in the ocp area and ,nroulr, a TDR fundedsrudy in he cameroon, might be sufficient to allow a decision to be made once all the data hadbeen analyzed' conccrning the topicat DEC test and the o. volvulus DNA derecrion resr, thcProgramme would undertake during the coming year their frnal field testing on the basis of a studyprotocol to bc developcd in consultation with EAc, crD and rDR. L23' 1500 specimens from zones with and without transmission as well as in areas treated oncewith ivermectin had bccn used to evaluate imrnunodiagnosric tests. A new antigen (c27) was testedin parallel with the tri+ocktail antigen in rhe ime stuay. Both sho-wed a satisfactorydiscrimination berween the various groups of specimens. 124' A srudy of DEC patch testing demonstrated high spccificiry at differenr rimes of reading butIow sensitiviry except after 48 hours while rhe DNa oetlcrion (scrarch) test specimen, still underanalysis, showed ercouraging preliminary resuls. lvermectin distribution 125' During 1994, nro^ million people in l0 500 vitlages within ttre programrne area were underiverrnectin reatment: ?a% through ocP mobile disrri6ution carried out by national aeams,26voby means of cornmuniry self+reament and 4% within fixed healtr cenrres "nd o,h., sysrems. Thecoverage rate varied from 79% (comrnunity sclf-trearment) ro 73% (mobile reams).Nongovernmenral organizations continued their involvement in,.no suppon to, national disrribution Programmes. L26' Ivermectin trea-tment and epidemiological evaluarion in Extension areas were an importanrcomponent of the OCP strategy to bc applied until Programrne opcrations ended. Ir was rhereforeproposed that EAc recomrnend to JPC. t6 rtrat ocp -stroulJ continue irs financial and togisricalsuppon to these two acrivities until the end of programme operations. L27 ' During the period under review, ocP had undenaken an evaluarion of tre ivermec(indistribution prograrnmes in Mali' Guinea and Senegal based on quesrionnaires addressed ro villagechiefs, heads of families and membcrs of households. 128' The analysis of the responses confirmed the high coverage of rreatmenr. Shoncomingsincluded unsatisfac(ory community panicipation, insurriJieni superrision of field acrivities and lackof good management. Proposals were made for n "n.r irnpiivemenr of ivermectin distriburionactivities with particurar emphasis on communiry-based ,r.",rn.n,. Impact of ivermectin disrribution 129' Evaluations carried out in the Gambia basin in scnegal. (reared rrvice yearly since 1990 wirhivermectin alone' confirmed the absence of onchocercat lirection in chil<Jrin teis tnrn five yearsof age who were excluded from iverntec(in treatnlenl. Moreover the prcvatcrrce of rhe r.fec(rorrhad decreased by 70 up to 94 per cen(. JPCl6.3 Page 19 130' Anotltcr study in tlte Bakoyc an<J Fal0rrre basins in Mali. treated exclusively wirh ivermectinotlce a year during the past five years' also showed conrplete absence of onchocercal incidenccdurirtg that g:riod witlt contparable reduction in the prevaience of infection. I 3 I ' ophrhalnrological evaluations carried our irr rhree villages in the pru basin (Asubende focus);tfter seven years of annual ivermectin (reatmcn( confirmed the virtual absence of ocularrnicrof rlaria confimring earlter observations. Furthermore there was a significant improvement inIesiotrs of the anterior seglllcn( (sclerosing kerariris an<I iridocyclitis) as.-ornprr.a io t5c siruationafter five years. L,esions of the posterior segnlent renrai,e<l suble. 'ft* 132' The comntittee although recognizing the inrportance of promoting community-basedivermectin distribution as the nrost cost/efiective and sustainable'nrethod [oir,r.o out t.at itsintroduction in communities sltould be adequately prepared raking into account local socio-culturaldeterntinents and tltat adequate supcrvisiorVfollow-ui would be assured. Thus, thc move fromlarge-scale ntobile to community'based distriburion shoutd be carefully phased and monitored. I33' EAc recontmended in this connec(ion rtrat the Programnre, in consultation with thePanicipating Countrie.s, might set targets for achieving community-based ivermectin distributionmking into consideration tlte variety of condirions exisiing in the countries concerned. 134' Follorving t'lte review of the epidemiological activities and ivermectin distribution, rhe ExpertAdvisory conrntittee concurred with the view of the programme smff concerned thatepidenriological evaluation and iverntectin trea(ment were both indispensable components of theocP strategy (para' 126). The conrntittee ilrerefore decided to reconsider i(s recommendation inits Mid'Term (Phase IV) Prospective Evaluation report that programme financiat and logisticalsupporr cease by the end of t997. 135' EAC would consequently recomnrend ro JPC.l6 (December lgg5) that ocp financial andIogistical suppon to epidemiological evaluation and ivermectin distribution be continued until thecessa(ion of Progranrnre operatioru in the year 2002. 136' The cotnntittee was informed that epidemiological surveillance underuken efficiently by thertrtional teant of Burkina Faso had detected, pr"r.-i.n.. of infection of 10.7 % aadan incidenceof rrtfection bctrveen tlte last surveys of 1.8.o/o in the village-of Zoulo along the'river Bougouriba.\/ectorcontrol had been stopped along this river in r99o wiren previous epidemiological results hadsltown tltat the ottcltocerciasis irtfcction had. bccn virtuauy etinrinatea. tr,. r.,.ri'nndings for thevillage of Zoulo could therefore be an early indication or....a.r.ence of onchocerciasis infectionin tltis focus' If confirnred, this would be the first case of recrudescence derection in the ocp. 137' Funlter detailed investigations would soon be undertaken jointly by the national ream andtltc ocP' Thcse rvould include extensive and in-depth rnigr"iion studies in Zoulo, inrcrviews forprevious ivernrectin treatnrent which may have resulted in-ratse incidence estimates. and detailedcntontological studies in tlte nearest catching poinr to determine infecrivity levels in rhe vector. Theobjective of these studies would be to deten-nine *t,ernei-,r,.'f.r"ri,ological findings for Zoulo doindeed reflect rhe early derecrion of recru<lescence. JPCt6.3 I'age 20 138' The opportunity would also be used to resr various new diagnostic rools which were beingdeveloped for the early detection of recrudescence, viz. immunodiagnosis, the DNA scratch testand the DEC patch test. 139' In the event that a sute of recrudescence would be declared, a deailed plan would bcdevelopcd wirh rhe narional t.am for ivermectin distribution in this focus. Devolurion activities lntroduction 140' opcning the discussion on this agenda item, tre Programme Director recalled rtrat ttreconcept of devolutioo t"9 dcveloped over the years wittr modlfrcariors beinj made as a result ofnew tecbniques being apptied in the Programrne. Hc called for an ongoing evaluation of devolutionactivities' The Director stated that he perceived ttree domains which should bc addressed in thecoming years - first the tools and mettrods of devolution activities; second the process of transfer;and third the institutionalization of thesc activities in ttre Participating countries. He ttren listedthe tools and methods which ocP should transfer to the paniciparing countries: l) tools forepidemiological surveillance; 2) cost/effective ivermectin-disuibrtion-; "na-ii-rnro.rntion -&lucation - communication. Each tool and/or method should bc rrarsferable, acceptable,affordable and sustainable. In the contexl of instirutionarization, he emphasized the need for anevah'ntion of the capaciry of each coun[ry to implement onchoccrciasis surveillance and control. l4t' The Reprcsentative of the Director of &e wHo Regional office, Dr F. wurapa, reviewed3 nttmls1 of recent developmens. The -Regional Direct6r. Dr Ebratrim M. samba. wished toscrengthen the constitutional role of wHo in terms oi'.uppo., ro narional healrh sysremsdevelopment, training and collaboration/coordination. or yamua was taking steps to ersure thatwHo acted as a single organization in the A^frican Region, fovioing integrared support from drecountry' regional and headquaners levels. offices or trre wno Refreseriutires *lr. also beingstrengthened. r42' EAc had submitted the Mid-Term (Phase IV) Prospective Evaluation report to Jpc inDecember 1994 and the repon and its recommendations had been approved. It was corsidered tharmany of the issues surrounding devolution had been clarified following o. ,.cog;tLn u,at ocp.smandate and resporsibility were restricted ro ensure that surveinance for potenrial recrudescenceand the implementation, -if necessary. of con(rol. This was tre key, and limited, role theProgramme was expected to play. The criteria for thc .rr.rrrn.n, of the capability of theParticipating countries to carry out effective onchocerciasis recrudescence detection and conrrolwere also provided to the Commirree. Defi nitions and responsibil ities 143' The clarification.by the Joint Programme commirtee in December 1994 of rhe corcept ofdevolution had allowed ocP to p.o.e.u r,rrith. and r,i"r,g,n;". irs activiries in this field whichamounted to supponing the Panicipating countries i",r,"?.u"ropmenr of narional capabitities asregards epidemiologicat surveillr,,c" f* the control of recrudcscent onchocerciasis (devolutionseruu stricto). JPCI6.3 Page 2t 144' The broader aspcc( i'e' to assist Participating countries in strengrhening their health servicesto become capable of effectively integrating onchocerciasis surveiilance and controtr would be the ;::ffi:i.i'Hof wHo/AFRo togedrir with otlter inrernr,ionrl and birarerar organizations sucrr as 145' EAC considered tltat the key issucs wltich needed to bc addressetr fouowing the clarificationof ocP's responsibility for devolution were related to how recrudescence"detection courdcffcctively be irnplementcd in technical (erms. The committee.urged the programme to rapidrypursue activities in the domain of an appropriare diagnortic- toot and provide by the nexr sessionof EAc a clear recomnrendation for impienrcnation Jrrt",erected,.ri ri*.rn|diagnostic, DNAor DEC test) (see para' l2l)' Enc also requested a crear recommendation on the porentiarity ofentomological surveillance. The conunittel nnarry .rnpr,rrir.d ril-d;;;c" or *rintaining ffil'L:ff';:: ffifT:'rl,ffing che toors and o.ri"i"e'ii. opcimar .h.*;iI;iugh which suc[ 146' The Programme Direcror, in his ope-ning shrernen(, arso emphasized the imponance of thecxtent to which the transfer had been effeclve .r ,n."ru..d by the .r.iiruiii y of staff, theappropriateness of their training and the absence or .onrir"ints on rheir operations. The EAcrcviewed the information availabte on training proridJ;y'rie prog.amme at different levers andthe currently available skills' In the future, it wourd u. n...r.r.y ro more accuratery define thetraining needs' in relation to the inuttediate requir*r.*r oiocp and particurar country needs.The capacity of their surveillartce attd conrrol sirvices shouro be reviewld ,o ..t i.r. meaningfurintegration' In panicular. the conrnrirree enrphasized that training should concentrate on in-servicerraining thereby enhancing relevan( capacity. '--"r 147 ' The Programme rvould need to cottsider the needs of the countries in the context of a post-ocP envirorunent in drawing up criteria lolttre *4.,:; ji.gnor,i. resr and advise EAC and Jpc :i::H"X:"r::r.#,:te rianirerred and financed. enc i,'oi.a rhat rhe optimrr-c.iteria ror such 148' The committee tlterefore recommerrded .thar the programme address wirh regard to thelonger-ternt the key topic of post-ocP tools in tl,. .onrcr'i of rhe need for a mechanism rocoordinate resul.s, ensure quality control, and nuintain inroimation exchange at minimum cost, r:::ll"i'*'"1i:::l:J"rr'.'lnicar questions which wourd n..J . be monitoreo',**ur. erriciency Dcvolution ac(ivirres lnsritur ionalization 149' EAc considered that the Progranrrne shourd develop the concept of institutionalization ofoncrrocerciasis-rerated activiries wittiin trre parricura, .on,.i, or eacn counrry. 150' Dr wurapa referred to the recent decision by the Regionar Direcror to fund rhe posts of aIttcdical officer and a tecltnician within ocP to p.o*o,. ,ir.ini.g.r,ion aspect of devotution sensastricto' wHo/AFRo-Yt also re.vicwirtg the woita gr,,r. puji;; docurrrenrs in rrcarrrr secror rcformsa.d esseruiar ^eartrr packages witrrin rrrr ,,Bctter H*ii,';;;';'rri.r,, initiative. Previously rclerrcd (<-t as <Jevolu lion scrtsu ktto JPC I6.3 Pagc 22 l5l' The committce appreciatcd receivt:g.r:pon_s on significant achicvcments of the Nationalcoordinators of four counrrics (Benin, Burkina pmo, cir* and Sencgar). Thc rorc of theNational coordinators in their respective health .nriron*.nl was cliscusscd. It was consideredthat the need was for nationat coordination of onchocerciasis-relared actrvities and ir was suggcstcdthat the role and job descriptions of the individuals rcsporsibrc for sucrr coorcrination rvourd assisrin defirung responsibilities and institutional linlcagcs. 'This would clearly vary from counrry [o :.T:t";:Hhould be develoSrcd in the context of ihe devetopmcnt of hcatrh ,.*i.., andtorheatrh 152' EAc noted that.progress in preparation for the Minisrerial meeting in December 1995 wasunder way and considered 9!,t" Programme Director should review the progress made andmaintain discussioru with AFRO and the-Panicipating cornii., to discuss ttre instirutionalizationof integration of residual onchocerciasis contiot *,*i,il inro the heatth sysrems. [t wascorsidered importanc tlnt coordination between dre respective panies be maintained. Achievements 153' The committee expressed its satisfaction with corsiderable achievemens in rhe domain ofdevolution since ics last session; I t ocP fellowships h;J ;;; granted; epidemiological training .supported by wHo/AFRo had been promoted. in workshops in several <icp .oun,ries; and rheEpidemiological surveiltance suppon prolect had .rt^urir-r','.a surveiilance cenrres in four ocpcounrries' Epidemiological surveillancJhad bcen carried ilt national teams in some cases witlrfinancial and logistical suppon from ocP. whirst ,h; p;;ip;ting countries did underrake acriveand passive surveillance and endemic disease control their capicities were limited "na oruy BurkinaFaso had is devolurion plan funded. 154' The activities which reflected the Programme's responsibility for devotution i.e. ivermectindistribution systems, quatiry control of epidlmiorogic.i-J;Jirir*., devetopment of diagnostics,IEC' preparation of training manuals ana suppon rhiough fellowships are reponed under parricularparagraphs in this report. 155' The Joint Programme committee decided at its 1994 session rhat ocp financial suppon rothe Macrofil chemotherapy Projecc should cease by rhe end oi,r,. founh Financial phase in 1997with tlte expcctation that TDR{ would seek funding r", ,rr.'i*rinuarion of the projecr beyond thatdate' A proposal for a four-year plan covering.thJr"r. t*o y.rrc or rhe founh Financial phase and 3:",';i:.::99 period ntct with the approval of rhe To'R scientific and recrrnicar Advisory 156' critical path analyses of the development of the currenr rhree macrofilaricide candidares hadestimated dtat' assunting all safety and. toxicorogicai- prr.n,.,.., were satisfied. high-doseivermectin could bc available for fietd application uyirgr;,-ii95, o,no"rrzine by october l99g:and UMF 078 by rhe year 2000. Macrofil oroiecr .l.li:,,iilii"r)|"'lr:i'*on/workj l);rrtk Slrci.l I'r.gr:rr,rrrc trr ncsc;rrcrr ;rrtrrr;ri*ir* irr I JPC l(r.3 Page 23 157' As regards ltigh-dose ivermectin (800 pglkg) prclirninary findings of in vitroassays carrie6out at ocRC l{ohoc had only dentonstrated rnarginai nracrofiliriciaat Ifrect from a single do.se interrtrs of reduced nrotility and biochemical activities in worms. The results of histopathological studies were stilI awat(ed rvltile a protocol for further trials with repcated trcatmcnr schcclules 6adlrccn prcparcd. 158' clinical trials of Antocarzirte (18 ntg/kg) rvcre un<Jer way a[ the Hohoe cenrre followingcxtctlsrve delibcrations by the lvtacrofil Steering Committee wirti t1e analysis of ptrase Il clinicalsafety and efficacy data exlrccted to be available by February lgg6. The Macrofit Steeringcontrttittee rvith a cottsultant ltad reviewed all available data (clinical and toxicological) from thentanufacturer and from recent trials in latin America. Protocols had been approreo uy att relevanlclinical and ethical corrrmitrees. I59' Development of UMF 078 was still at the pre-clinicat stage and phase I srudies in humans :::ltr:o|[iX,Toltto (o conlmence before septembcr 1996 provided the resulrs of animar toxicity 160' Macrofil continued its research regarding diagnosis of possible resistance ro ivermecrinoccurrirrg, using for that purpose resistant s(raim of the free-living nematode Caenorlnbditiselegarc and rhe aninnr parasite nematode Haentonchus conroilus. l6t' A special predictive simulation was undenaken in this connecrion using rhe oNCHoSIMtttodel' lt rvas concluded tltat the probability of resisrance developing was relatively low.Horvever' should lorv level resistance eventually-occur it might be overcome by rhe applicarion ofhigh-dose ivermecrin. now known to bc well rolera(ed. 162' civen tle current lack of relrable techniques for the luay of microfilarial sensirivity tot'erntectin' the searclt for reduced suscepribitity by nreans of microfilarial counts would not bepursued until molecular probes capable of derecring iesistance genes in o. volvultts were available.Instead. any rreat.le't fairures rvourd bc studied to iaentify thlir cause. {.*{. 163' Tlte chairnratt of thc Macrofil Steering corrrnrirtee, Dr win Gut(eridge, reviewed for EACtlte tecltnical issues relating to priority Macrofil ac(ivities, and his forecas$ [icompretion of workin each area. 164' The committee was satisfied that all outstanding rechnicat issues relating to macrofrlaricidesin clinical or preclinical devetopment, and to research-relaring to diagnosis of ivernrectin resisrancervere being dealt wirh by Macrofil. 165' A Macrofil docunrcnt outlrnirlg bu<Jgctary requirernenrs for rhe four-year perio4 1996-1999had been circulated to EAc prior to tlte session. Thi conrnrirtee was informed tlut Director TDR,after a review of Macrofil's activities and bu<Jgetary ,.quirements by the scientific and rechnicalAdvisory corttntittee of rDR,-ha<I agreed,o f*a,rr. p.oi..,-irom l99g onward, and had i,itiaredrle\\' fund'raising activities for this purpose. EAc - encouraged rhis action by TDR andrecontmended tltat ocP facilitate the transition by mainraining reatistic funding levels to Macrofiluntil the end of I997. JPC I 6.3 Page 24 166. The Macrofil Steering Committee had atleatcd priority in the use of OCp funds to those current preclinical and clinical activities which coutd lead to macrofilaricides in the shon rerm. However, the possibility, during the transition period, of some OCP funcls bcing used for drug discovery activities could not be excluded bcfore the new TDR funds became available in 199g. 167. The unit corrccrned (BIS) continued is contributions to the decision-making regarding c€ssation of larviciding based on ONCHOSIM predictions. Ar thc same time it continued its collaboration with. and support to, other units in terms of data collection and analysis as well as training of headquarters and field staff involved in such analyses. 168. The BIS unit also provided training in computerized analysis of operarional dara to National Coordinators and continued to arrange for trarsfer of such data ro rhe Panicipating Countries. 169. ONCHOSIM srudies were undenaken conceming furure conrrol strategies in foci wirhin the Original Programme area with persistently high prevalence rares despite prolonged larviciding; the required duration of ivermectin distribution as the sole means of control; and criteria for orrchocerciasis recrudescence derection. 170. Although scill to be validated by incorporating the risk of recrudescence, simulatiors seemed to indicace that in sinntions where vector control had not achieved complece intem-rpcion of transmission, ivermectin distribution introduced a few years before the cessation of larviciding, and intensified during ten years thereafter, would intemrpt transmission and reduce rhe risk of recrudescerrce to less than l%. l7l. Preliminary simulatioru had been undertaken to predict the rcguired duration of ivermectin distribution in the absence of vec[or control as in thc northern part of the western exrension area. In these areas where there were comrnunities with a pre{ontrol CMFL, of 60 mf/s, rhe risk of recrudescence was still unacceptable after 20 years of annual or six-mon(hly treatment. Only in t}te areas where the pre-control CMFL nowhere exceeded 20 mf/s6, might rhe risk of recrudescence be brought to below l% afrcc 15 years of annual treatmen( or l0 years of six- monthly [reatment,. These findings would be reviewed and a sensitiviry analysis of rhe parameters used in the model was [o be made. l'12. From a series of model simulatiors it was concluded that the enromological crirerion for determining the risk of recrudescence would be the number of L3 per 1000 females ar the end of larviciding. Otlter determining factors were the pre-conrrol CMFL level and rhe blackfly biring density. This study would be continued with a view ro esublishing field-applicable criteria. 173. The Conrmittee was also informed about the progress made in calculating rhe prevalence of onchocercal infection by DNA techniques of O. volvulas L3s in batches of pooled heads of blackflies. In view of the rnterest of this technique for viltage cotlecrion of blackflies in the conrext of devolution a pilot project would be implemented in the Original programnle area where OCp control had ceased seven years earlicr. The batches would be fonnarded to the Bouak6 laborarory. ' Comnrunity Microfilarial Load o Microfili:rilc ltcr skin-snip JPCl6.3 Page 25 Il,esearch l7'{. EAC considered tltat the priorities for the remaining years of the progranrme would be in tlte dornain of oSrerational research including increased involvemenr of the social sciences in the con(ext of ivernrcctin distribution and dcvolution. To faciliute this, a close link would be rttaintairted up to tlte end of 1996 rvith the TDR initiarive on onchocerciasis operational researchin preparation for tlte fonhcorrring African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (ApoC) (see also para. 176). EAC recontntendcd tltat resources bc comnritted to support research activities in rhis imponanr domain essential for the success of devolution. 175. The Programme was commended on its continuing high quality research output and on the substantial number of publicatioru produced in prestigious inrernational journals during the past)'ear. The Committee strongly recommended that this record be sustained and d"t .r..y opponuniry be taken to publish all available dau. l'16. The conlntittee was infornred drat TDR was undenaking a major operational researchinitiative in preparation of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis controi (Apoc), and that several of the research issues being addressed were relevant to ivermectin-based control in the OCp area. Tltese included research on methods for community self-tre4tment with ivermectin, treatment and reponing in illiterate contnluttities, rapid methods for monitoring of ivermectin delivery ancl various issues relating to the intportance and rrea(nrent of onclrocercol ,kin disease. 117. oCP rvas directly involved in tlte-se activiries rhrough the Chief of the EpidemiologicalEvaluation Unit' who was a ntembcr of the TDR Task Force on onchocerciasls operatlonal Research, artd through joint funding of the nrulti-country study of community self-treatment. The contntittee encouraged both wHo progranlnles to intensify the coilaboration, especially in researclr relatirrg ro cornnlunity self-treatnrent with ivernrectin 178. It was considered tltac as oCP came to an end the types of research undenaken by rheProgramme would inevitably cltange. The major technical pioblems had been solved and it was anticipated that only linrited funds would be necessary ro suitain such research: - continued techttical suppon to the Bouakd laborarory to ensure quality control of DNA nrethods; cotttinued suppon to link to the Pasteur Institure for inrproved B.r. formulations basedon reconrbinant s(rains: - developmell( attd rcftttelttctt( of diagrrosric tests: inrnruno<.tiagnosis, DNA scratch test and DEC parch test; - Macrofil rclared rcscarch (to ccasc by end_ lg97). - continued sensitivity analy.sis of the paramerers of ONCHOSIM in the light of new epidemiological findings. JPCI6.3 Page 26 G. DRAFT PLAN OF OPBRATIONS FOR TITE PH.ASTNG-OUT PERTOD (1998.2002) 179' The committee was informed aooultf .nlliminary sreps taken in the preparation of rhe planof operations for the Phasing-out Period which would L ,luri,,.d to Jpc at ia 1996 session.Suggestions were made by EAc for corsideration by the programme Director in prepraring hisdraft proposal. H. OTTIER MATTERS 180' Dr Remrne informed ttre commitrce -about -the prcparation for launching the AfricanProgram'me for onchocerciasis corurol ourside rhc ocp ir.il^poc) and outlined the strucrureand future opcrations of that progranrme. I. DATE AND PLACE OF EAC.17 181' The comrnittee decided to hold ia scventeenth session at ocp headquaners, inouagadougou, from Monday l0 June to Friday 14 June 1996 preceded by a briefing session onSaturday. 8 June. J. ADOPTION OF THE DRAFT REPORT 182' A draft' of the report of the session was.adopted by the Comrnittee with the undersandingtlnt modifications agreed upon during its coosidcration wourd bc incorporat.a ior f,rnat approvalby the Ctr.airman. K. CLOSTJRE OF THE SESSION 183' After the cus(omary exchange of courtesies the ctuirman declared t}te sixreenth session ofthe Expert Advisory Comminee cl,osed. REPORT OF THE STXTEENTH SESSION OF THE ECOLOGICAL GROUP Bouake, 26-27 lanuary 1995 CONTENTS JPCl6.3 Page 27 ANNEX Page SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS A. INTRODUCTION 28 29 30 30 32 34 38 39 B. C. D E. t. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA . . . . REPORT ON VECTOR CONTROL ACTIVITIES . . OPERATIONAL RESEARCH AND NEW LARVTCIDES AQUATTC MONTTOzuNG RESULTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON THE LERABA AND NEW MANDATE OFTHE ECOLOGICAL GROUP FOLLOW.UP OF EG15 RECOMMENDATIONS woRK PROGRAMME FOR t995/1996 39 ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEXT MEETING 39 READING AND APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS . . . 39 K CLOSURE OF THE SESSION 39 APPENDIX l: List of panicipants 40 APPENDIX 2: List of documenrs 4t G H I APPENDIX 3: Work progranrme for t995 APPENDIX 4: Absrract - Environnrental impact study 42 43 JPCI6.3 Page 28 Annex SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS The sumrnary of the Ecological Group's recommendations is presented below Recommendations to OCP t' Maintenance of the facilities in order to make possible the improvement of ttre B.t. H-14formulation (para. 33). 2' Repctition of ore srudy on the medium-tcrm impact of etofenprox (vectron) on the non-rargerfauna on sites selected by the programme 1para. ASy. 3. Preparation of a publication on aquacic monitoring in colaboration with members of theEcological Group (para. 55). Recommendations ro the hlrdrobiologists 4' Preparation of publications on the monitoring data with the supporucollaborarion of membcrs ofrhe Ecological Group, if desired (para. 55). 5' continuation of the monitoring of the prcsent statiors and selection of one site per country foran environmencal impact study (para. 5ft). 6' Suspension of the gxctunge programmes bctween the national hydrobiologty reams and theirrcplacement with the visit of some hydrobiologists to ouagadougou for iiscussions on theenvironmental studies recommended (para. 55d). 7 ' cessation of routine a-nft lmnting but an effon to interpret bener the existing daca wirh thesupporr of members of the Ecological Group (para. 55g). 8' Spot qualiative monitoring of watercourscs which are no ronger treated. in order to srudy therecolonization potential, and spoc monitoring of trcated watercourses in the eastern zone(Annex 3). R."o**.ndrrionr ,o ft. con,*i,,.. of Spo*odn* Ar.n i., (csA) 9' The Ecological Group concluded that thc success of ocp acriviries and the consequences ofrcsettlement in the abandoned valleys would increase human pressure on the environment andaquatic ecosystems' Thercfore. after.discussiors at lentth. in the light of its new mandate, theEcological Group recommended that trc cSA should invJlve the whole expertise creared by ocp-related ecological activities in the establishment of resettremcnt ptans and in environmentaldevelopment (para. 6l). (a) to involve dre ecological expcnise. panicularly. of rhe national reams and rhe programme, inrese(tlemenr impacc studies. (b) invitation to two expens (an environmental economist and a rand developnrent ecotogist) ro ar(enrtrtre nex( nrceting of thc Ecological Group. (c) ln tlre lortg lcrlll' (o try to cs(at)lish a lirrk bctr*ccn ocP's r':rncrarc;r.d sust:rirr:rblc rJcvcltll).rc,r. JPCI6.3 Page 29 Annex A. INTRODUCTION l. The Ecological Group held its sixteenth session from 25 to 27 January 1995 in Bouake. c6ted'lvoire, under the chairntanslrip of Professor D. Calamari. Dr H. de longh was absent for reasonsbeyond his control and asked to be excused- The lists of panicipan(s and o'f worring documents are appcnded hereto as annexes I and 2 respectively Orrcltine session 2. The opening ceremony was presided over by Dr D. Buriot, wHo Representative in C6te d,lvoire rvho, on behalf of wHo/AFRo, welcomed the mernbers of ttre Ecological broup and orher participantsfront the different Panicipating countries. I{e srressed the honour he felt in chairing rhe ceremony ara time rvhen the role of ecology in devclopment, in general, and on the heatth of populations, inpanicular. was remining the attention of the various p"rtners in development. 3' on behalf of dre outgoing Programnte Direcror, Dr E.M. samba, and the Acting Director,Dr A' Sdk6t€li. and on ltis own behalf, Dr J.M. Hougard (Acting chief, vCU) also welcomed the ntenrbers of the Ecological Group and extended to Orem the Programme,s best wishes for the New year.He dranked che wHo Represenutive for accep(ing to chair ttre opcning ceremony of the sixteenttr session of the Ecological Group which was being held at a turning point *iitr regard to the programme,sfuture and tlte activities of dte Ecological Group and of the national aquaric rionitoring teams. 4' As a nratter of fact, tlte expansion of tlre mandate of the Ecological Group, which it asked forduring the fifteenth session and which was supponed by the Programme's Experr Advisory comrnittee,\\'as accepled by tlte Committec of Sponsoring Agencies and endorsed by the fifteenth session of theJoint Progranrnte conrntittee held in Yanrousioukro in December 1994. Accordingly, rhe currenr session should not only reformulate the usks of the hydrobiologists but also discuss the membcrship ofdre Ecological Group' Dr Hougard tlten declar.o ur. meeting open before giving rhe floor roProfessor Calanrari for rhe rest of rlre deliberations. 5 ' In an inuoduct'ory sutement' Professor calamari, chairman of the Ecological Group, highlightedttre exenlplary nature of the wHo oncltocerciasis controt programme whici, while seeking betterhealdr for the populatioru, rvas doing everyilting possible to preserve rheir environnlent. He thereforepraised dle effons rrtade by tlte Programme to use the most selective insecticides and urged thetechnicians ro adhere to the Ecological croup.s recommendations. 6' During the opening of the day of exchange of views bctween the hydrobiologisrs and membersof dre Ecological croup, on 25 January 1995. Professor D. calamari. the session,s chairman. afterwelconring his colleagues asked that there should bc a minure,s silence in memory ofDr D' Quill€vcr€. former chief of vcU, who died in June 1994, i.e.. five months afrer the previous session of the Ecological croup. An order for a bust had been placed by ocp saff and an officialinstallation cerernony would be organized on 5 June 1995, in ouagadougou. during the sixteenth sessionof the OCP Expen Advisory Conrnri(tee. 7 ' Mertrbers of the Ecological Group.attd tlte hydrobiologists of the parricipating countries thenlistcned [o presellta(iotts ott the participation of hyd-robiologiits in ttre senrinai irganizea by FAo inl{arurc (zinrbubrvc) <lrt corttittcrttal fisltcrics, aquiculturc a]rd trre cnvironnre.t i. Africa and o. ttrecourse whiclt tor:k place irt Maroua (canteroon) ou environnrentat impact studies. Tlre excha'ge ofcxpcrience bctrveen tlre ru,(ional hyclr<ltriology rcanrs was also rcviewed. JPC r6.3 Page 30 Annex 8. The monitoring resuls presented during the hydrobiologists' meeting were summed up for the members of the Ecological Group. 9. A detailed presentation on the environmental impact assessment conducted on the l:raba was also made with special emphasis on the approach which rhe hydrobiologists should refer to in rhe implemenration of the extended mandate of rhe Ecological Group. 10. After the exchange of views between t}te members of the Ecological Group and the hydrobiologists on issues concerning the Group's new mandate and the monitoring resuls, the hydrobiologists thanked ttre Ecological Group for the effons made to improve rheir knowledge and the Programme for tuving given ttrem ctre oppornrnicy ro panicipate in colrses, seminars and-exchange prograrnmes berween the national hydrobiology teams. I i. The Ecological Group, for is Pan, congnulated the Programme on the agention it had alwayspaid to the hydrobiologiss. B. ADOPTTON OF THE AGENDA L2. The agenda, as presented in dre contents list of this repon, was adopted. C. REPORT ON VECTOR CONTROL ACTTVITTES I3. The Chief of the Vector Control Unit (VCU) indicated thar larviciding operations were carried out suc.essfully in 1994. [n collaboration with the Chiefs of Adminisrrarivi ana Tecnnical Services(CATS) of the Programmels npo operational zones, he ttren reviewed the Unir's acrivities since the last meetiog of tre Ecological Group. 14- The seven operational insecticides were used in rotation in ttre differenr river basins under treaLm:nt, taking into account the discturge. the specific quatities of each larvicide. the blackfly susceplbiliry level and costtffectiveness. The acceptarrc. oi erofenprox (Vectron) as an operarionillan'icice allowed ev€n more flexibilicy and efficacy in the rrealmenr.s. panicularly for the discharge raDge cf l5 to 70 m3/s for which hittreno only the organophosphorus compounds (Abate. phoxim andprraclo:bs) could be used. t5' The gradual decrease in he number of rivers under larviciding continued in 1994 and this affectedtre nurber of helicopters under contract with the aerial company (frorn 97 helicopters/monrh in 1993to 83), the number of telebeacons used, flight houn (savingi of about l27o) and rhe quantiry oflan'iciGs usrcd (14% savings). 16- Larviciding had been defrnitively stoppcd in the upper basins of rhe Nzi. Comoc and Black volta and ot: rfre Mekrou and white Bandama. In 1995. oe larviciaing cessarion wi[ cover the So12, Alibori,Ku!par1. Pampana/Teye. Baoule and Bagbe (with the cxceprion of the Karkelaba). 17- In 1995. in the.original area, only ttre Karrkelaba in Mali. rhe BIack Volra in rhe Bui area inGFz'ruznd the tribuuries of the oti. Kara. Keran and Mo in Togo will remain under larviciding. 1 wasplztttd' that dtese residual larvicide (rea(ments would cease larest by rlre end of the Founh financial Phg2,s€. l8' Asinlgg3.tlterainyseasoncametateinallthebasinsinthccasternzonc. l{orvever,therainfall wzs h-u'vy and lcd (o tttuclt floodirrg al some sires. At the heiglrt of rrrc sparc. rhe dischrrgcs rcaclccl vaj 'rcs:"vo to tltrcc trtttcs ltighcr lltau those of 1992 bur sirnilir to tlrosc otrscrvcct in 199 l. JPCt6.3 Page 3t Annexl9' Itt 'ierv oI'tlte.Iriglr <lischarges recorded, ,rany tributaries an<l subtribuuunder larviciding and tltis resulted-in an increa* i" tiiei,irrours and rrrc il;;;f,[t"i'rt ::,fJ:t:::]:[:or dte first tinte' Vectrott rvas usecl o. rtre conroc, ,f.lo*.. Bandama and thc Brack vorta. 20' The severt available i'sccricides were used according to rhe ro.,rion sysrem esabrisrred by VCUrvhicrr courd be sumnrarized as fororvs ro, ,ri. Jiir.-.]ni'olr.n..ge ranges: - discltarge < l5 nrt/s: B't' H-14 is used without limiurion on the number of cycles. Thechemical insecticides ftemepnos, phoximj arc--used only when cailed for by rogisricproblems' The current':',11.1"-tlder"r;& H-la formur"tio* shoutd make it possibteto exrend tire upper linrit for ttre usi of tf,ifioOu"t. - discltarge between 15 and 500 mr/s: the objective of the roarion is. on the one hand, tomaximize che use of temephos, the .t..p.Ji.r,emicar i^;;ii; and the most serectivervich regard to tie non-target organisrr, anJ,-on rhe other t."a, ,i minimize the risk oftentepltos resistance' The number or ru...rriue cycres of treatment with each chemicallarvicide (temephos' pyractofos, ptori*, v..t.nl-is limireJi".lgn, in order ro prevenrtlte developtttent of teiistance' pernrenrln -and carbosutr.n .outialso be used between70 and 500 mr/s but for a nraximum ;i;;;.i.r.r. ' drscltarSe > 500 nt3/s: for logistic and cost reasons, the only insecticide likely to be used ;:tr#,':::'il,r!'.:;:TH",itT,',;;',o1r*i,oi.. rhe restriciion -,i* cycres may be very ! ll:J':,'i"i,',1tr1?#d the Black volm wtrose discharges are above 500 m,/s ror r the lorver Bandanu-wttich.is below o,g 9Tr: trs discharge is derernrined by theactivity of trre rurbines of trre rorro, o'na raabo r,yoro.i.iiric dams and flucruaresabove 70 mr/s for r,any monrhs. The insecticioeierecrion it.r. i, rimited by theresisrance to rhe organophosphoru, .o-nriounar. 2l ' In the r'esterll zone also, dte sandard. romtion sys(erns were respccted. Vecrron was, however,;l'.ffi:.'}i#':i"l;',"'io",Lii, j" reduce ttre pressuie ;il. organophosphorus compounds in the ?? Generally speaking. rhe larvicid.foltorving aistincrive reatuies,1,";i;:-;-#r."r:t#t"t"|.l:To for the wesrern zone was atrained. The ' sierra Leotte: suspension of larviciding since the 1992 rainy season on (rre Sewa/Bagbe and rso u,,r,rYil'J,.:,,.},l:ff,[l].'J:Tt;:l''ir.f"#,J,:. ground, using pyracroros (berween 70 ancj 23' Tlte entortlological results recorded through rhis rarviciding covcrage wcrc satisfacrory in trrcrvliole ProSratttttte area' out of 2t2 catctring pJrn,, nroniroiea.regutarry, about 90vo rrada hurnanottcltocerca Annual rrartsrttission polnitr llrp]::ri iii,.,iii,u on*"orrn., species combine<r. of rcsstltan 100' Four p<:ittts ltad an eT'p or,r,or. ttran io. inffigi*r area. rwo points in cote d,rvoire,s JPCl6.3 Page 32 Anrpx souhern extersion, nine poina in trc south<astern extension. one point in Guinea and seven in Sierra I-eorc. ?A. Transmission by savanna species was still less since only three points tud an ATP above 100 but less ttr,an 200. They were Gbasse on the Sota (163), Titira on the uppcr Keran (158) and Wari-Maro on the Terou (Lzl). The number of catching points will decrease from 212 to 175 in 1995. i.e., a decrease of about 12%, becavse of the reduction in the larviciding coverage. 25, The Ecological Group congraolared tre Programrne on the excellenr entomological results recordcd despite the very incompletc lariciding in Sicrra Leone and the many suspcruions made on the waErcourses rcgularly treated. Howcvcr, it noted that pcrmethrin was ued on the Niger, the Btack Volta and the lower Bandama for morc than six consecutive wceks becausc of the high discturges and low srsccptibiliry of the blacHly populations to the organophosphorus compounds. Alrhough the resuls of the hy&obiological evaluation of thc Sanaga in Cameroon and the Niger in Mali showed a limited impact of this product on the benthic cornrnunities at high discharges, as far as possible, the Ecological Group would lilce the use of pcrmettuin and carbosulfan to bc reduced ro a strict minimum. D. OPERATIONAL RESEARCH AI.{D NEW LARVTCIDES Research on onchocerciasis vectors and parasites 26- The cytotaxonomic identifications of the larval scages had made it possible, in West Africa, ro distinguish nirr species of ttre Simulium damnosum complex out of a total of 13 species or forms. Besides, as a result of the recent progress made in the morphologicat identification of adult females, rhe females could now bc reliably separated into ttuee groups (savanna/yatrense/soubrense squamosum): all OCP techniciars had been trained at present in the use of Ouat technique. Funhermore, collaboration with Dr Unnasch of the Universiry of Atabama (U.S.A.) resulted recently in the developmenr of DNA probcs which made it possible to idenrify all the OCP target spccies. That technique will be applied in the Bouake laboratory in 1995. particularly for infective females caught during the entomological monitoring. 27. The DNA-probe identification of infective larvae was being continued in Bouake. The availabiliry of probes both for blacKlies and parasites will makc ir possible, for the first rime. ro detcrmine the red vectorial role, under natural conditions, of each species of the S. damnosum complex. Search for new larvicides and ncw formulations 2A. The search for new chemical insecticides was no longer a priority for the Insecticide Research Unit (IRU). It was considered, in fact. that OCP should bc able ro prevenr or. if necessary, control any blacHly resistance to the insecticides. Therefore, research will henceforth bc centred on rhe biotogical insecticides. A first conrponent corrcerned the improvement of Vectobac, a research which was being carried oul in collaboration with OCP's supplier. Abbott. A second componenr concemed the determination of the role of ttre B.t. H-14 toxins in collaboration with the Entomoparhogenic Bacreria I-aboratory of the Pasteur Instirute. Liquid formulariors of B.t. H-14 produced from recombirunt strains werc currently bcing evaluated. Finally, the dcvclopment of new scrccning methods. panicularly the multi-stirrer. was being continued. The equipment would atlow IRU ro res( both chemical insecticides and B.t. H-14 on blackflies as well as rhe non-rarger fauna. 29. Apart from the research activities, IRU was conrinuing the nroniroring of resisrance and the quality control of thc opcratiorul insecticides as recommended by the Ecological Group during its fifteenth session. JPC I 6.3 Page 33 Annex 30' The recent data ott blackfly susceptibitity to rhe insecticides confirmed the general improvementof tlre siruation in the Programnle area. It was now possible to adjusr the use of tJmephos (in rernrs ofzotle' use and nuntbcr of weekly cycles per year) according to the susceptibility tevels measurecl. 3l' The salicttt point of susceptibility nronitoring in 1994/95 concerned the Bamako area where adecrcascd susceptibility to pyraclofos was observecl in January 1995. That situation was <lue to thenunlerous trcat'n]en(s by boat carried out recently with that insicticide on the r.'rig"; ""a its tributaries,around Bamako' Tlte recourse (o al(ermtive insccticides shourd make possible the return to normalsuscepcibility levels' However, the increased risk of resistance which giound larviciding represented :t}t|l,h::t:Xd, i.sofar as access points for ilre (rearmenrs were limiLd and not retated to the carry 32' The use of etofenprox would have beneficial effecc on the management of resistance to theorganophosphorus compounds' It could in-fact replace phoxim to advantage for the reatment of low-discharge walercourses (15-50 mt/s; for which o.g.nop'torptorus compounds were largely used, and|]iJ:;l'"tj.,T irtterruption of long series of pyrictoios ,i."i^.n, as was the case ar presenr on the 33' The Ecotogical Group noted the effons being_made by tRU, in collaboration with Abbott andtre Pasteur Institute, to improve rhe performance of B.t. H-t+. rne Group recommended thar effortssltould bc concinued for they should make it possibleli o.rv to minimize insecticide pressure on rhe :H,1i:riilff#:tlt but also to solve, to a large extenr, the problem of blackfly resisrance ro rhe 3'{' In dre shon tecnt, vectron presented a toxiciry on the entomocaenoses hat was comparabre tothatofpyraclofosattdtItereforelessthanthatofpermethrin.Itsimpactonshrimps@p)was altttost uve tintes less tltan drat of pemrethrin. as regards nrn.r, Vecrron was 100 times less toxic than 5re rmethrin on Oreocltronis niloticus and about 20 tines tess ioxic on Tilania zilliil 35' The middle course of dre comoe, bctween Aniansue and Mbasso, was selected, during t6earutual insecticide research meeting held in Bouake i" rtl.y lgg4. for the study of rhe medium-termrrllpac[ of vectron on clte non-target fauna. Unfonunatery.i'rre nva.ological siruation on the comoc hadbeen very changeable: the discharges remained below rs mvs- u'p-il-'irjy"in." increased roalmosr 200 mr/s within three weeks. 36' Despite this special situation, dre treatmenrs were suned on I I Augusr lgg4 for eight weeksand a santpling rvas ntade in order to evaluate tneir impacion tn invenebrate fauna (crustaceans andi.sects)' The influence of tltis special hydrologicat situation on the result. *", ,u.h that they were oflittle value' Ic was interesting, ho*.u"i. to poinr our rhat no shrimp or fish monality was observed.Furtiemtore' the fishernten did not no(e any charrges in rheir adulr Macrobrachium (shrimp) catches. 3l' ltt view of that s-ituatiott, it was proposed to repea( thc srudy on a.ot6cr watcrcourse in 1995,raking into account rhe foilowing points: - rhe wa(ercourse setected should be one treated regularly; ' tlte discharges slroulcl be above t5 rnr/s and relarively stable for five to te, weeks; V, JPCl6.3 Page 34 Annex possibility of susprcnding (reatment on the watercourse or of treating it only wittr B.t. after stopping the Vectron treatment; existerrce of a saxicolous fauna sampling site; site virn:ally not influerrced by human activities; possibiliry of carrying out this expcriment without disrupting vector control opcratiors and without additional aerial opcrations costs. 38 Taking into account att Orese points, it was proposed to conduct the study: - during ttre flood-subsidence pcrid when the discharges would not exceed 50 m3/s: - preferably on the Bagbc, tributary of the Sassandra: - six to eight larviciding cYcles; - to monitor rnainly the benthos and stuimps, during and after the Vectron treatments; - to report on it to the Ecological Group as soon as possible. 39. Sirrce Vectron was being used operationatty by the Programrne, the Ecological Group recommended that adequate sites which would allow a colTect evaluation of the medium-term impact of the'product on the noo-target aquatic fauna be selected. E. AQUATIC MONITORING RESULTS General 40. Apart from a few exceptiorls. the monitoring activities were carried out according to the timeable and frequerrcies established in 1994 by the Ecological Group. Thus. as much data as possible was sent to Or:agadougou where the entries were made. A partial analysis of Ore data made it possible to rentrn them to the teams in the form of diagrams and tables. 41. [n accordance wi0r the recomrnendations of the Ecotogical Group, ttre invenebrate biologists were asked to take stock of ttre situacion. in each station. since the bcginning of thc monitoring. The ichrhyologiss will also bc asked to do a similar thing for Ote next hydrobiotogists' meecing. Fish monitorine 42. In Ghana. some social events prevented the timetable for the monitoring of dre Pru and tre Oti from bcing adhercd to. Comparcd to 1992J1993. the hydrological conditions were less favourable. While, generatly speaking. rhc catches pcr unit effort (CPUEs) appeared to have bcen on the decrease since the past tive years. it should bc noted that Orc composition of the catches was nlore or less similar and thar rlcruitment seemed to bc good since, proportionally. the small-meslt nets gave higher CPUEs. The variations observed, both for the size frequency distribution and thc coefFrcient of condition. appcared to bc directly influcrrccd by dre lrydrological conditions and tlte extent of the spate. For most oi't6e spccies studicd. reproduction scemcd to takc place at the beginning of July or at the beginning of the rainy season. JPCI6.3 Page 35 A ttncx 43. In Guinea. as plarurcd, tlte tltree s6(ions were monitorerl regularly. On the whole. therc was a gcneral increase in dre CPUEs in 1993/1994 compared to 1992/1993. 'their trend cycte still followed rhe sarrte pat(ern. i.e., an abundance and richness peak during the low-water period, which canre in advarce in May-June, on dte Sankarani and the Milo, and during the flood-subsidence period, in Noventber. on tlte Dion. The size frequency distribution and mean coefficient of condition values conformed to what had been observed in previous years. An imporunt study on the reproduction of many species had made it possible to highlight the different existing srrategies. While. on the whole, no long-ternr impact ltad been observed, an accidental pyraclofos overdosage due to a sudden decrease in discharge caused a considerable fish morulity in July 1994 on the Bale, rriburary of the Niandan. M. Two sites were to be sampled regularly in Sierra lrone but bccause of the social unrest, only tre Rokei rvas sampled according to the esablished timecable. During the period under consideration, *re hydrological condition was more or less similar to ttrat of the previous years but the discharge was higher and could be due to tlte construction of a dam and the destruction of the galtery-forest. n decrease in tre CPUEs was still being noted bur ir was impossible to decermine rhe cause. However, dris decrease did not affect the species diversity or coefficient of condition or size frequency distribution. Obviously. no cltange, if there was any, could be attributed to the larviciding. On t5e otrer hand, an incrcase of about 25% in fishing activities had been noted as well as an increased use of icluhyotoxins (lasSj_flgglgg.lrda) on rhe Rokel. 45. ln Cote d'lvoire, tltrce sations were regularly sampled. A considerable decrease in the CpUEs rvas observed during the teant's missions as well as a low level of frshing by professionals on the same wa(ercourses. Citharinus eburneensis, which had disappeared since many yeirs, was found both in the experimenul catches and in ttrose of fishermen. On t}re contrary, Alestes baremoze, which was nrarkedly preponderant. was now not more abundant than the other species. The trend of ttre coefficient of condition and size frequency distribution did not show any significant change compared to the orher years. '16. The ntonitoring stations in Cote d'lvoire were no tonger being treated. However, as in most of the sutions under larviciding, a general decrease in tre CPUEs had been noted there and this could dterefore not bc attributed to the Programme's anriblackly larvicide spraying. The causes should be looked for elsewhere: natural trend, external disruptions. erc. Finally. some species encountered rarely or not at all in the sandardized catcltes of the (eanrs were found in the catChes of fishermen. Their absence shoutd rherefore be arrributed ro the sampling method. Monitorinq of :lte entornofauna 17. ln Cote d'lvoire, because o[ a retatively low hydrological condirion, it was possible ro usc B.t. I{-14 up to August 199'{. The whole arulysis took into accounl t6e 19 most abundant Laxa, an<l cven llte eight principal taxa. for tlte ntost in-depth analysis. According to the srations, (he saxicolous fauna shorved fluctuations wltose trend was generally upward even though the densities of the Plrilopommidae and Tricorythidae were downward. The analysis of the 20 yeirs of surber sampling at Danartgoro and Entomokro showed more or less the same rrends. The pre-iarviciding dau or.it.ppea rvith tltose of the B.t. treatment periods. the suspensions and. to a tesser extent. the tcmephos treatment sequences. On the other hand, they were contrary to the samples nrade during the chtorphoxim.permethrin and carbosulfan treatments. [n fact, the strucrure of the saxicolous corimunities showed a typology related to the irttpact of tlte different larvicides sprayed. The drifr index results were Sardty inrerprerable and difficulr to relare to rhe use of the insecricides. 48. The Pru. in charu. was santpled in accordance wittr (he reconrrnended timetable. The overall faunal drift seertte<J to bc tllore or less stable and not influenced by the treatnlents. The absence. in rcccrlt years. of vegctation ('l'risticlta) on ttrc rocks seemed, on the other han<l, to have fairly affected tPct6.3 Pagc 36 Annex the density of the benthic invertebrates. Further studies on the Btack volta had confirmed the towproductivity and poor diversity of the fauna of this rivcr. Despite rheir initial abundance, theEphemeroptera, which were a group susceptible ro the larvicides. had vinuatty Jisappeared. 49' In Guinea. the analysis of the four lalions usually sampled, which covered a pcriod of l0 years,showed a general decrease in dre faunal dersity. Hlwever. the shon<ycte taxa (chironomidae,Baetidae) appeared to be less affected rtr,an thosi having a long cycle like the Tricorythidae. Thefaunistic trend could be sumrnarized in ttrree phases: (a) the first: 'pre-larviciding', during which only traditional activities existed; (b) the second: "first larvicide treatmenB", during which a sudden initial decrease in density isobserved followed by a slight re_estabtishmeit; (c) the lhird: "treatmeo6 then ccssadon", during which ttre initial subiliry is found again, burat a level less han rhe initial onc. 50' Funhermore, the Guinea tea-m collected a numbcr of data on nationat expcndirures (Ministry ofAgriculrure) on pesticides. The data were obviously incomptere, but neve(heless instnrctive. Asregards the four biggest agriculrural units, officialty rirey spent 1.200 million Guinea frarcs in t994. 5l' In Sierra lrone, three stations were monirored according to the established timetable.Compared o Lg)211993, there was a slight increasc in taxa densiry and richness in 1993/1994 on therock slabs as well as in the drift. However' it shoutd be noted that, during the low-water period, therewas a sudden decrease in the density of the organisms at two stations as a result of ttre use ofichthyotoxirs' The faunistic diversity still seemi ro bc beaer at ouramba park on the Kaba. ArMusaia on the Mongo and Malgankaw on the Roket, the ctrironomidae had become rhe most imponantgroup, suggesting relatively poor eovironmental condidons. 52' on the whole, while there had been changes in the communicy srrucrure and densities of sometaxa' they had rcmained wichin acceptable limia. tt did nor therefore seem tlut (he entomofauna hadbcen directly tfueatened by the larvicide sprayings made by ,r,. nrogorr*e. some "trrrears" appearedto be panicularly related to the impa"t of ..i.tttrn.n, "ni some orher external factors on tre qualiryof the aquadc environment. 53' This multipliciry of potential sources of aquaric comrnunity disruptiors had, moreover. led theEcological Group to ask for an extersion of its mandate ro in ira. the srudy of factors (otler than ocp-conducted larviciding) likely to be rtre cause of the changes obserred. This should make it possible toberrer idenrify rhe causes. 54' A first srudy on that scale was carried our in the area around the border bridge on the l-eraba(Batdry et al' 1994)' The quality and the s.tr.u:rure of the aquatic community at the s.rion were similarto tiose observed during the pcriod of larviciding although i.n"a u..n suspended ^rny y."o ago. Theusc of a simulator' "Soil Fug". for the evah.ation of the'fa,. oi,r,. pcsticides sprayed around the bankshowed that the impact of the pesticides was. ar prcsenr. negligibleon,t.;q;i[-enrironm.nt. Theother srudies led to the following conclusions: - tle impact due to human wastes should be negtigible despite a nrarkcdty increased population Pressure: - tltc village-of Lrrabadougou \vas tlre principal ftrcr<:r of disrupriorr of tlrc local cnvirrnnlc,rirr tcrrrr.s of witrcr qtrality; JPCI6.3 Page 37 Annex - "a considerable physical cltange related to tlte degradarion of the gallery-forest and to a great increase in the areas cultivated was noticeable: the aquaticenvironruent disruptions observed at the border bridge were relatively limited in space since the biological quality of the watercourse was better some lO km below Lrrabadougou and on tle Couroe river. The Ecoloqical croup's responses to the hvdrobiologists' recommendations 55. The Ecological Group congratulated all tre hydrobiologists on the quality of the daucollected and analyses made. The Group encouraged them to persevcrc in Orat direction and recommended thar publications on tltese daca be prepared with the support/cotlaboration of members of rtre Ecological Group, if desired. Furthermore, tlte Group expressed the wish for the governments to pay artenrion to dre decrease in fish catches observed, panicularly in C6te d'lvoire. The Ecological Group then exanrined dte recotltnrendations made by thc hydrobiologists and made rhe fotlowing suggestions: (a) The joint meeting day should be nraintained in t996 to allow rhe exchange of views berween the hydrobiologists and ntembers of the Ecologicat Group to be continued. (b) The hydrobiologists should continue to measure water physico-chemical quality, laying special emphasis on tentperature. conductivity and turbidity. Professor D. Calamari, chairman of the Ecological Group, witl make a presenrarion on tre toxico+cological significance of those parame(ers during the next joint meeting. (c) The work programme proposed by ttre hydrobiologists for 1995/1996 was endorsed by the Ecologicat Group but it made changes in the sampling frequency and period (see Secrion H). Furttrermore. tle Group recommended that i qualitative sampling aimed at a study of the potential of recoloniza(ion on tte watercourses no longer under larviciding should be undertaken as wel[ as an envir:nmental study of the fotlowing watercourses and sites: - Pru, at Asubende (Ghana) - Sassandra, at Bac Semien - Milo. ar Boussoule - Mongo, a( Musaia (d) ln view of the carrying out of the environmenral studies, the Ecotogical Group recommended that the exchange of experience between the national hydrobiology teims should be suspended and replaced by the visit of some hydrobiologisrs ro Ouagadougou for discussions with the Hydrobiotogical Evaluation Coordinator on the environmental studies they had been asked to carry out. The Programme would make availabte to the hydrobiologists a copy of tlte repon of Baldry et al. on the environmenul study carried our on thc l-craba as well as the report on ilre Maroua course on environmental impact studies. (e) Tltouglt tlte Maroua (Canreroon) course was. on several accounls, interesting, the Ecological Group expressed tlte wish for priority to bc given. for the momenr, ro rtre carrying out of environmental studies on the abovc selected watercourses, with the supptn of the Progranrnre and sonre of its nrenrbers. (D Tlte Ecologicat Group ettdorsed the request for a shon training for Sierra [rone's invenebrate biology techrrician. FJPCI(r.3 Page 38 Annex (g) Since drift was a particularly good means of evaluating rhe taxonomic richness of a watercourse in the context of long-term studies. the Ecological Group recommended that routine drift collections bc stopped, that spot samplings be made on the selected watercourscs and stations and ttr,at thc existing dau be interpreted with the suppon of members of the Ecological Group. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON THE LERABA AND NEW MANDATE OF THE ECOLOGICAL GROUP 56. The method for the srudy of the general impact of human activities on the l-rraba hydrosysrem and the main resuls recorded were presented to the joint meeting ot 25 January 1995. Only the sununa(y (see Annex 4) was reviewed by the chairman of the Ecological Group in order to faciliure the discussions. 57. Since ttre srudy was carried out wittr ttre financial suppon of tre Netherlands, it was possible to prepare the land occupancy map by taking photographs by helicopter. To minimize rhe cosrs, while getting as close as possible to the reality, this pan of the study could have been carried out by road, aking care to complete the information with the help of associatiors in the area covered by the srudy. 58. The objectives pursued by an environmerual monitoring programme were to provide an evaluation of the environmenal conditions and their trend in time and space in order (o be able to take the necessary measures in due course so as to avoid the environmental degradation resulting from human activities. The srudy, as carried out on the l-eraba, was a good example. [r made it possible also ro determine the causes since it identified the potential sources of impact and assessed the risk that each of them represented with regard to the aquatic ecosystems 59. Mindful of the importance of such an approach to both the Programme and the Panicipating Countries, the Ecological Group took note of the acceptarrce, by the Joint Programme Committee (JpC), of the expansion of its mandate and congrarulated all the acrors on the decision. However, it drcw attention to the fact that an effective execu(ion of the work would necessitare more resources than what was available and, therefore, urged the Committee of Sponsoring Agencies (CSA) to sra( negotiations with the different bodies responsible for environmental issues (Global Environmental Facilities, etc.) in order to obnin additional financial resources for these environmental studies. 60. The Ecological Group had instructive discussiorLs at lengrh on the monitoring results and the role which the hydrobiologists played and could play in future in environmental impact studies. The Group conctuded that the success of OCP's activities and the consequencc of the reser(lement in the valleTs thar were abandoned would increase human pressurc on the environment and aquatic ecosystems. 61. Consequently. in the light of its new mandate. thc Ecological Group recommended thar the CSA should see to it that tlte whole expenise created by the Programme's activiries in rhe field of ecology was involved in tlte organization of resettlements and in environmenal managemenr in rhe OCp area. This would amount to: (a) involving the potentialities in the ficld of ecology. panicularly those of the national reanrs and the Programme, in the environrnenral impact studies: (b) inviting two expcns (an environnrcrr(al econonrisr and an ccologist/land nranagcnrcnr speciatist) as observers to the next nreeting of rhe Ec<llogical Group: (C) trVirtg. irt tltc Ittrlq tcrrn. to cstablisI a lirrk [ctr,,,ccrr OClls rrr:r1tl;rrc :rrrtl strstlrirrlrtrlc llgl,cltrllrltcrt( tll' tltc zortcs conccrrrcrl. JPCl6.3 Page 39 Anrrex G. FOLLOW.UP OF EC 15 RECOMMENDATIONS 62. 'I'he l]cologicat Group cxpresscd sa(isfaction ar the irrrplemenration of almost alt its reconuucttdations. I{orvevcr. the Group rvould like the evaluation of thc medium-term irnpact of Vecrron on the non-(arge( aquatic fauna to be continued. I{. WORK PROGRAMME FOR 1995/1996 63. The Ecological Group approved tlte essentials of the work programme proposed by the hydrobiologists but, in order to retttain within the limits of the available buclget, changes were propose<I, panicularly concerning the sarrtplittg frequency (see Annex 3). Furttrermore, it was recommended that an annual qualintive monitoring should be made on the watercourses in C6te d'lvoire which were no longer being treated (White Bandama, Comoe and Lrraba) in order ro assess their recolonization potential (resilience). The drift would only be sampled occasionally (once per year) with a view to an evaluation of the taxonomic richness of the watercourses. Finally, an evaluation of the ecological situation of some watercourses that had no longer been monitored since 1987 (Mono and Oueme) should be made in 1995. 64. During tlte visit rvhiclt some hydrobiologists of the national teams would pay to the OCp Iteadquaners, discussions would be held with the hydrobiological evaluation coordinator to allow proper execu(ion of dre environmental studies within the Ecotogical Group's extended mandate. I. ARRANCEMENTS FOR THE NEXT MEETING 65. Tlte next ntecting of the Ecological Group would be held on I and 2 February 1996.in Lome(Togo), preceded by that of the hydrobiologists on 29 and 30 January 1996. A joint meeting (Ecological Group/hydrobiologists) would take plAce on 3l January. J. READING AND APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS 66. The suntnrary of the ntain recommendations was read and approved by the panicipants in the sixteenth session of the Ecological Group. The repon will be submitred to rhe chairman oi tne Group for approval before its finalization for presen(ation ro rhe Expert Advisory Committee. K. CLOSURE OF THE SESSION 61. The Chairman of the Ecological Group thanked the OCP sraff in Bouake for the perfect organization and for the attention paid to his colleagues and himself. Funhermore, he congraiulated tlte secretariat and all the pa(icipants on their positive contributions to the success of the sixteenth session of the Ecological Group. JPCl6.3 Page 40 Annex APPENDIX I LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Members Prof. D. Calamari, lrsticute of Agriculrural Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture. Universiry of Milan, via Celoria 2,1-20133 Milan, ltaly Professor K.W. Cumrnirs, Departmeru of Rescarch, South Florida Water Management District, P.O. Box U680,3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4580. USA Dr C. [lv0que, D6l6gu6 Permarrcnt I I'Environnement, 213 rue [a Fayette 75480 Paris, Cedex 10. Frarrce Dr M. Yasuno, Director, Global Environnment Research Group, National Institute for Environmental Srudies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, lbaraki 305 Japan Other panicipants (Observers) Mr- G. Ciparisse, [-and and Settlement Offrcer, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Iraty Dr D. Paugy, D6panement Eaux Continentales, ORSTOM, 213 rue [a Fayerte, 75480 Paris, France Prof. V.H. Resh, Department of Environmental Sciencc, Policy and Management, Division of Entomology and Plant and Soil Microbiology. University of California, 201 Wellman Hall, Bcrkeley, Catifornia 94720, USA Secretariat Dr. H. Agoua, VCU/OCP, BP 36, Kara. Togo Dr. L.K.B. Akpoboua, VCU/OCP. BP 2279, Bamako, Mali Dr C. Back, VCU/OCP, BP 1474, Bonak6, C6te d'Ivoirc Dr J.-M. Hougard. VCU/OCP, BP 549, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Mr. M. Sarr, VCU/OCP, BP 1474, Bouak6, C6tc d'Ivoire Mr. E.J. Senghor, INF/OCP, BP 549. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Mr. J.-M. Tapsoba. VCU/OCP, BP 549, Ouagadougou Dr. L. Yam6ogo. VCU/OCP. BP 549, Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso JPCr6.3 Page 4t Annex APPENDIX 2 LIST OF DOCUMENTS ocP/vcu/HYBIO/95.1 Aquatic moniroring of the entomofauna of treated warercourses by the Oncho Control Programme in Sierra l,eone (Summary) - by D. Tholley. ocP/vcu/HYBIO/95.2 surveillance de l'entomofaune des cours d'eau guindens trait6s aux larvicides antisimulidiens dans le cadre de la lutte conrre I'onchocercose de 1984 A 1994 (R6sum6) - par F. Kondd er K. Nab€. ocP/vcu/HYBIO/95.3 R6sum6 du rapport annucl de surveillance de I'ichtyofaune de cours d'eau trait€s aux larvicides antisimutidiens en Guin6e - par M.E. Diop. OCP/VCU/HYBIO/95.4 Surveillance de I'entomofaune aquatique non cible de cours d'eau rrait6s en C6te d'Ivoire er noo trait6s au Burkina Faso (R6sume) - par le Service de l'Evaluation hydrobiologique. OCp. OCP/VCU/HYBIO/95.5 R6sum6 du rapport annuel de la C6te d'Ivoire (Ichty<ilogie) - par K: Traord OCP/VCU/HYBIO/95.6 Fish monitoring report of Ghana 1993-1994 (Sumrnary) - by E.K. Abban, P.K. Ofori Danso, H.R. Dankrra & F.Y. Amevenlu. ocP/vcu/HYBIo/95.7 lnvenebrate monitoring repoft of Ghana 1993-1994 (Summary) - by J. Samman. ocP/vcu/HYBIo/95.8 Ichthyological monitoring of rhe rivers rreated with larvicides in ocp area. Summary of the annual report Sierra l,eone - by G. Ganda. OCP/VCU/HYBIO/95.- Panicipation in FAo/clFA seminar on 'African Fisheries. Aquacutrure and the Environmenr" - by E.K. Abban JPCI6.3 Page 42 Annex APPENDIX 3 Benin Beterou Mberckoukou C6te d'lvoire Danangoro/Maraoue Entomokro/Maraoue Bac Semien/Sassandra Niala/Whirc Bandama Ganse/Comoe Border bridge/I-eraba Ghana Sabari/Oci Asubende/Pru Guinea Sassambaya/Niandan Baranama./Dion Tere/Dion Boussoule/Milo Mandiana/Sankarani Kessane/Makona Sierra lcone Musaia/Mongo Ouramba-parUKaba Makpankaw/Seli Matotaka/Jong Bumbuna/Seli Toso Kgrcssi/Mono WORK PROGRAMME FOR 1995 Sampl ing pcriod/frequency Fish January to Jurp then Nov.-Dec orce/year (in December) once/year once every 2 months once every 2 monrhs orce every 2 months once every 2 months once every 2 months I once/year once every 2 ntonths InvertebratesCountry/Site/River January ro April, Nov.-Dec orrce/year (in December) once in dry season once/month cessation of the monitoring one/year (in December) i a a once/month once/month ) spot monitoring ) once/year ) (surber/drift) once/month once/month oncc/month once/month orrce/month N.B.: D:r1, arrd niglu tlri[r (orrcc/vclr) once/year (in Decenrbcr) JPCl6.3 Page 43 Annex APPENDIX 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON RESETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE ONCHOCERCTASIS CONTROL PROGRAMME AREA IN WEST AFRICA PILOT STUDY IN THE UPPER LERABA BASIN . BURKINA FASO. COTE D'IVOIRE AND MALI ABSTRACT The great successes achieved by the Onchocerciasis Comrol Programrne in West Africa(CCP) in the large-scale control of the blinding savanna form of onchocerciasis (river btindness) have allowed vast tracs of previously abandoned valleys to bc resettted and developed. Among the many issues and problems that have to bc addressed to ensure the most effective long-term malugement of settlement and development in these onchocerciasis-controlled areas, and by no means least' is tllat rvhich relates to the potential impact of those development activities on the environment. Despite the fact that for many years anti-blackfly larvicides were regularly applied ro the rivers of the OCP area. dte quality of the aquatic environment was preserved, partly bccause of the precautions taken by the OCP. but largely because of rhe absence of human population pressure intte areas most severely affected by onchocerciasis. However, the situation is now thanging - rilp: rr! in pans of the OCP area ' and tltere is increasing concern for the welfare of both "!u.ii.. ..1 terrestrial environmens. In this context, it was recognized that there was a need for Ore formulation of an appropriate nrethodology for environmental impact assessmenr. tn 1991 thc ocP committee of sponsoring Agencies (CSA) started to address this issue, and in 1993 launched a pilot project in onl selectei basin (the UPPer ljraba Basin), the rcsults of which are describcO ininis r.port. The primary objectives of the pilot projecr were: - assessment of the present environmental situation in the Basin, with a view todetermining potential sources of impact on the aquatic environment. - quantification of cltemical loads, and assessment of modification to the physical. environment; - identification of si-rnple study nrctltods which would be applicable ro ottrer areas and rvltich could be offered as exantples to predict environmenial inrpacts of settlement anddeveropment. and to fumish guidelines ro nrinimize those impacts. Througlt the collectio.n of geographic information and data on land utilization. as welt as by an assessment of loads (fertilizers, pcsticides, human and livestock wastes), an ecotoxicotogical irlrpact evaluation of human activitics was nude, at basin rcale, in rhe Uppei L,.u. Basin. Moredetailed evaluations o.f changes in the physicalenvironment were made with special artention bcinggiven to analyses of changes in land utilizrtion patterrls between 1972 and t99i. and to determining the ecological significance of rhe observed changes. JPC I6.3 Page M Annex APPENDIX 4 (cont'd) In addition. some limited biological srudies were conducted on ttre aquatic fauna of Ore River l-l.r?ba in order to confirm, by direct observations, the general observations made and hypotheses develogrcd during the preceding evaluations It was conclud_ed that organic loads and nutrients were only of relevance along limited stretches of the main ljraba river, where settlcmens were locatcd closc to the river banla and)rovided point sources of contamination which had lcalirrd cffecs on river water grrality, and thus on fish and aquatic invertebrates. The contamination of river water by pcsticides used for cotron protection, was calculated by means of simple Tod.! which also permined the theoretical concentrations of pesticides in river water to be estimated. Although the predictcd corrccntratiors of pesticides in river water were not, as yet, at levels that could give cause for alarm, they coutd however bc considered as early warning signals. With regard to physical changes in the envirorunent, it was concluded thar about 75 per cenr of the original savanoa woodland tud been cleared for scttlement and for agriculrural deveiopmenr(most of it over the last decade). The rivcrine forests of many of the smaller rivers and srreams had been destroyed, and on some cleared river banks the first signs of soil erosion were derccable. On the positive side, it was concluded that there had nor been any significant disrurbance of ore riverine foress and associated floodplain grasslands of the main river. The overall conclusion from the Pilot Projecr was that, on the basis of studies which werelimited both in time and $opc,- it was possible to make valid and meaningful assessmenrs of the upper lJraba Basin, in terms of chemical contamination of river water, of localized changes in thebiological condition of the aqu:ltic'ecosystem, and of physical degradation of the woodland savanna component of ttri terrcstrial environment. In relation to tre Pilot Projcct's third main objective, the investigatiors clearly demonstrated rhar the employed techniques - using input data that were very basicl but readily ivailable from national agricultural and development authorities, and by ttre appiicarion of srandari hydrobiological techniques and simple models - can be used. as examptei of quicr ana reliabte environmental impact assessment methodologies, which are applicable to other, similar areas.