The African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) is at the forefront of reducing the impact of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses on livelihoods and public health in Africa. The prevention, control and eradication of the diseases is achieved through specific networks, platforms and projects within the framework of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme.

Rationale

Trypanosomiasis severely affects human and livestock health, limits land use thus causing poverty and perpetuating underdevelopment on the continent. The impact of the disease extends over 36 countries and an estimated 10 million sq. km (a third of the continent) of land area. The International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) was established in the 60s on the realization that the removal of tsetse and trypanosomiasis required an international organization that would serve as a vehicle of cooperation and implementation across national, regional and continental barriers. ISCTRC is a statutory council of the African Union with the secretariat at AU-IBAR and is managed by an Executive Committee. It has continued to act as a platform for knowledge sharing and information dissemination on trypanosomiasis research and control.

Membership of the Council

Membership of the council is drawn from Member States, representatives of all international organizations and institutions working in the field of tsetse and trypanosomiasis, institutes in Africa engaged in tsetse and trypanosomiasis, representatives of regional and multilateral projects in Africa, funding and development agencies, members from other countries (as observers) where research on trypanosomiasis or related subjects is being carried out.

Membership of the Executive Committee

The ISCTRC is managed by an Executive Committee whose membership comprises of 2 members from each of the four regions: western, central, eastern and southern Africa; others are the Director of AU-IBAR, representatives of FAO, IAEA, WHO, ICIPE, ITC, ILRI, CIRDES, PAAT and PATTEC. The committee meets annually to organize the biennial scientific conference in addition to carrying out the Council’s functions.

Activities of ISCTRC

• Exchange and disseminate information through meetings and publications.
• Support capacity building efforts on tsetse and trypanosomiasis research and control.
• Provide scientific and technical support to African countries.
• Promote and encourage regional programmes.
• Implement regional programmes with AU-IBAR as a partner.
• Support integration of socio-economics and land use in tsetse and trypanosomiasis control activities.
• Identify knowledge gaps to increase capacity of experts on tsetse and trypanosomiasis research and control.
• Create awareness for demand-driven research.

Achievements of ISCTRC

• Biennial scientific conference to evaluate progress sustained since 1949.
• 2007: The ISCTRC Executive Committee recommends all necessary efforts to strengthen International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC) in the Gambia.
• 2001: PATTEC launched during the 26th ISCTRC conference in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
• 1999: European Union funded regional five-year Farming In Tsetse Controlled Areas (FITCA) project. Launched and implemented by AU-IBAR in 5 countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.
• 1999: ISCTRC Executive Committee recommendation to Member States and international organisations to consider trypanosomiasis as an emergency contributed to the establishment of PATTEC.
• 1965: OAU (now AU) Heads of State took over the Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa (CCTA) and was transformed into ISCTRC to be funded by Member States.
• 1949: Permanent Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa south of the Sahara (CCTA) created by international organisations for research and control of trypanosomiasis held its first meeting in London, UK.

Trypanosomiasis – a neglected disease

Trypanosomiasis affects human and animal health resulting in death if not treated and reducing livestock and overall agricultural production primarily due to lack of traction and manure. Policy makers in many countries still do not consider trypanosomiasis control a priority. ISCTRC has created awareness to initiate campaign against the disease in Africa since 1949.