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Overview   Research Activities Projects Achievements
 
 
  Research Infrastructure
  This rich portfolio of research rests on our network of technical research infrastructure. IHI operates 3 demographic sentinel surveillance sites in Ifakara, Rufiji and Kigoma. These provide continuous monitoring of age, sex and cause-specific mortality. In Bagamoyo we monitor inpatients and outpatients at the district hospital, in collaboration with the council health authorities. At Ifakara site, IHI maintains an insectory of mosquitoes and a massive “screen house” to monitor the behaviour of captive mosquitoes in semi-field conditions. Bagamoyo and Ifakara both have state-of-the art laboratories with extensive capabilities, including advanced DNA analysis. In Mtwara and Lindi, IHI is running 3 rounds of the largest health survey ever conducted in Tanzania to measure maternal and newborn health.
   
  Cutting Edge Research
 

IHI is best known for its malaria research. A long list of current research interests includes:

  • clinical trials of new drugs and vaccines
  • measuring impact of intermittent preventive treatment of infants
  • monitoring the effectiveness and safety of existing drugs
  • improving access to prompt and effective treatment
  • investigating diagnostic practice and clinical management of malaria
  • monitoring and evaluation of the national ITN voucher scheme
  • development and testing of fungi to combat malarial mosquitoes
  • discovery of odours for use in disrupting mosquito feeding and mating
  • measuring impact of larvicides and indoor residual sprays on malaria transmission
  • investigating mosquito ecology as a basis for development of new vector control methods

Yet we do much more than just malaria research. In recent years, IHI’s research portfolio has deepened and diversified to include:

  • researching health systems, including
  • equity & vulnerability
  • health financing
  • health information
  • human resources
  • governance & accountability
  • scaling up and monitoring interventions for maternal and neonatal survival
  • testing patient-centred approaches to the treatment of tuberculosis
   
 
   
 
© IFAKARA Health Institute (IHI), 2008