Feasibility of community-based control of tsetse: A pilot project using Tiny Targets in the Democratic Republic of Congo

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 14; no. 9; p. e0008696
• Main Authors: Vander Kelen, Catiane, Mpanya, Alain, Boelaert, Marleen, Miaka, Erick, Pérez Chacón, Dennis, Pulford, Justin, Selby, Richard, Torr, Steve J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.09.2020; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Acceptability; African trypanosomiasis; Animals; Biology and Life Sciences; Canoes; Citizen participation; Community; Control; Cost reduction; Democratic Republic of the Congo - epidemiology; Deployment; Disease Eradication; Disease transmission; Earth Sciences; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Feasibility; Feasibility Studies; Female; Geographical distribution; Geographical locations; Humans; Insect Control - methods; Insect Vectors - parasitology; Insect Vectors - physiology; Knowledge acquisition; Male; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Neglected Diseases - parasitology; Neglected Diseases - prevention & control; Pilot Projects; Planning; Population; Prevention; Public health; Public health administration; Qualitative analysis; Quality; Research and Analysis Methods; River banks; Riverbanks; Supervision; Tropical climate; Tropical diseases; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomiasis, African - epidemiology; Trypanosomiasis, African - transmission; Tsetse Flies - parasitology; Tsetse Flies - physiology; Tsetse fly (Glossina palpalis); Vector-borne diseases; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Congo (Kinshasa); United Kingdom > UK; Belgium; Uganda
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008696
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727

Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis (g-HAT) is a neglected tropical disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted by tsetse flies. 70% of cases in 2019 (604/863) occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The national programme for g-HAT elimination in DRC includes a large-scale deployment of Tiny Targets which attract and kill tsetse. This intervention is directed by vector-control specialists with small teams, moving in canoes, deploying Tiny Targets along riverbanks where tsetse concentrate. While the targets are deployed in communal areas, and the method is cheap and easy-to-use, local people have little involvement. This study aimed to evaluate if a community-led vector control programme was feasible in the context of DRC's g-HAT elimination programme. In 2017, a community-led intervention was implemented in three villages in the Kwilu province of DRC. This intervention was evaluated through an Action Research with qualitative data collected through 21 focus group discussions and 289 hours of observation. Also the geographical location and quality of each Tiny Targets were collected (total number deployed = 2429). This research revealed that community-based approach largely worked: people were motivated and proactive, showed a good application of the acquired knowledge resulting in an effective deployment of Tiny Targets. In addition, our study provided evidence that acceptability of the targets by the community can improve deployment quality by reducing target loss and damage. The approach was feasible in places where canoe-based teams could not reach. Against these advantages, a community-based approach was time-consuming and had to adapt to the seasonal and daily rhythms of the community. A community-based approach for tsetse control is technically feasible and recommended but limits to the speed and scale of the approach restraints its application as a standalone strategy in a large-scale national programme aiming to eliminate g-HAT in a short timeframe.