Browsing by Author "Ruheta, Martin"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Where and when to vaccinate? Interdisciplinary design and evaluation of the 2018 Tanzanian anti-rabies campaign
    (Elsevier, 2020) Fasina, Folorunso O.; Mtui-Malamshaa, Niwael; Mahiti, Gladys R.; Sallu, Raphael; OleNeselle, Moses; Rubegwa, Bachana; Makonnen, Yilma J.; Kafeero, Fred; Ruheta, Martin; Nonga, Hezron E.; Swai, Emmanuel; Makungu, Selemani; Killewo, Japhet; Otieno, Edward G.; Lupindu, Athumani M.; Komba, Erick; Mdegela, Robinson; Assenga, Justine K.; Bernard, Jubilate; Hussein, Mohamed; Marandu, Walter; Warioba, James; Kaaya, Eliona; Masanja, Pius; Francis, Gundelinda; Kessy, Violet M.; Savy, Janique; Choyo, Hija; Ochieng, Justus; Hoogesteijn, Almira L.; Fasina, Margaret M.; Rivas, Ariel L.
    Objectives: Hoping to improve health-related effectiveness, a two-phase vaccination against rabies was designed and executed in northern Tanzania in 2018, which included geo-epidemiological and economic perspectives. Methods: Considering the local bio-geography and attempting to rapidly establish a protective ring around a city at risk, the first phase intervened on sites surrounding that city, where the population density was lower than in the city at risk. The second phase vaccinated a rural area. Results: No rabies-related case has been reported in the vaccinated areas for over a year post- immunisation; hence, the campaign is viewed as highly cost-effective. Other metrics included: rapid implementation (concluded in half the time spent on other campaigns) and the estimated cost per protected life, which was 3.28 times lower than in similar vaccinations. Conclusions: The adopted design emphasised local bio-geographical dynamics: it prevented the occurrence of an epidemic in a city with a higher demographic density than its surrounding area and it also achieved greater effectiveness than average interventions. These interdisciplinary, policy-oriented experiences have broad and immediate applications in settings of limited and/or time-sensitive (expertise, personnel, and time available to intervene) resources and conditions.