To strengthen the ongoing collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme (PNLP) of the Ministry of Health of São Tomé and Principe (STP), GHTM researchers Dinora Lopes (IHMT, VBD-GHTM), Jose Pedro Gil (Karolinska Institute, VBD-GHTM) and Leyre Pernaute (Karolinska Institute) were on mission in STP. Between 20 and 28 July, the researchers integrated and observed PNLP’s active surveillance teams with the aim of clearly understand the workflow of this process and the subsequent tracking of malaria infections.
“As result of this work a set of blood samples preserved on filter paper were transferred to IHMT on the scope of an agreed MTA, authorized by Health Minister, Dr. Filomena Monteiro. This samples will be used for PCR-based plasmodia species identification, molecular analysis of antimalarial resistance, as well as refractoriness to diagnostic detection markers”, told Dinora Lopes.
During this mission the team were in contact with the Institute of Health Sciences of STP to evaluate the operationalization of the protocol signed between this institution and IHMT, for collaboration in higher education in Health Sciences.
Concluding, Dinora Lopes added that “in alignment with IHMT and GHTM’s mission, a training program for technicians was discussed and developed with the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory of STP, at IHMT”.