A number of rhodesiense sleeping sickness cases have recently been discovered in South West Ethiopia.  In order to support health professionals, that in the future might be confronted with new cases, the World Health Organization and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health organized a human African trypanosomiasis training in Arba Minch, from 21 to 24 February 2023. 

As a WHO Collaborating Centre, Intertryp (IRD France) provided part of the training, in particular the diagnostic aspects.  AHI supported the diagnosis training by providing fresh blood with live trypanosomes.  To get those, AHI performed a screening of cattle for animal trypanosomosis, and brought blood specimens of trypanosome positive animals to the laboratory. The parasitological examinations were carried out on these blood specimens, which enabled the laboratory technicians to see living trypanosomes under the microscope.  The recognition of trypanosomes in Giemsa stained blood film preparations was also practiced.

This experience shows that human and animal health institutions join forces to tackle human African trypanosomiasis in Ethiopia, and that the partnerships forged within the COMBAT project can contribute to the effort.