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About Us

IHRDC is non profit, independent, district based health research and resource centre, generating new knowledge and relevant information regarding priority problems in health systems at district, national and international level through research, training and service support aiming at better health and community development.

History

IHRDC was founded in 1957 as the Swiss Tropical Institute Field Laboratory. In 1996 an independent, non-profit foundation was constituted and registered in Tanzania as IHRDC Trust. Since 1997 the Centre operate as a Trust under the leadership of the Ministry of Health.

  Governance

The Centre operates under the Board of Trustees whose members include Ministry of Health, National Institute for Medical Research, Commission of Science and Technology, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Swiss Tropical Institute, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Muhimbili University Collage of Health Sciences, Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory. Kilombero and Ulanga districts health authorities.

    Major Research done at IHRDC

IHRDC was the first research institution in Africa to conduct malaria vaccine trial. Spf 66 was shown to be partially protective in 1 to 4 years old children. In subsequent trial in infants the candidate vaccine was shown not to have protection (TDR/SDC/HCB)

Evaluation of community effectiveness of insecticide treated nets implemented through social marketing was shown to improve child survival and reduce malaria and anaemia in children. The experiences obtained in the project were fed to National Malaria Control Programme in the development of national strategies for up scaling the use of the nets and insecticide. (SDC)

Evaluation of maloprim chemoprophylaxis and iron supplementation for prevention of severe anaemia and malaria in infants. Malaria chemoprophylaxis was found effective in prevention of malaria and anaemia but apparently impaired the development of natural immunity. Iron supplementation was effective in preventing severe anaemia without increasing susceptibility to malaria. (TDR/HCB)

Evaluation efficacies of antimalarials commonly used antimalarials this is conducted as part of National Monitoring of Antimalarial Drug resistance. (MOH/DFID)

Development and evaluation of simple, cheap and rapid approach to identify high risks communities with urinary schistosomiasis. The approach was validated in seven counties in Africa and now it has become of the planning tool in schistomiasis control. (SDC)

Assessment of quality of care, community perception and cost of dispensaries services in Morogoro region (ODA)

On going research projects

Health seeking behaviour in relation to Utilisation of Essential health interventions  (IDRC)

Multi-Country Evaluation of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (WHO)

Malaria Transmission Intensity and Mortality Burden Across Africa (MIM)

  Randomised control trial of new dose of Vitamin A supplementation in infants (WHO)

Molecular epidemiology and modelling the Spread of Antimalarial Drug Resistance (MIM)

Molecular Genotyping of samples from WHO combination therapy trials

Assessment of wealth index in Kilombero and Ulanga districts, Tanzania (Rockfeller Foundation)

Send mail to scharles@ifakara.mimcom.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2002 Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre