Yaobi Zhang
Field Programme Co-ordinator
Schistosomiasis Control Initiative
Fieldwork Health & Safety
SCI Fieldwork Background
• SCI is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Assisting several African countries with their national control programmes on schistosomiasis and STHs (now NTDs)– Uganda, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Tanzania, Zambia
(and others)– Provide regular treatment to school children and
adults as high risk of infection
• Monitoring and surveillance– Infection and morbidity
Health & Safety in the field
THE No. 1 priority
Before Travelling abroad
Risk assessment for every trip
http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel
• Security situation in the country and in the area
Get prepared!!!
• Vaccinations
• MedicineAnti-malarial, anti-diarrheal, First Aid pack
• Self protectionCream, travel mosquito net, disinfecting
wipes, etc
Accommodation
Somewhere secure and safe !
Food & Drinks
• Only properly cooked food, not roadside snacksBring some cereal bars with you
• Only bottled water or boiled water, or if you want, local beer
Zambia
Lunch at school
Ghana
‘Fufu’ preparation
Personal equipment
• GPS
• Mobile phone
• Torch
• Strobe
Transport
• Use your own transportation if possible
• Always travel during day time
• Stay with your team
Transport: just a car is often not enough
You sometimes get stuck
(car pairs or winch)
Solving problems is part of fieldwork
But sometimes the metal is not as strong as a tree
Laboratory examination
Height/weight/blood
Ultrasound examination
Fieldwork…….…is not easy…..but can be fun
Thank you