The Djibouti Friendly™ Mosquito Program is Growing

Oxitec is thrilled to welcome two new staff members to the Djibouti Friendly™ Mosquito Program to work alongside our partners; Association Mutualis, and the Djibouti National Malaria Control Program (PNLP) to combat the malaria-spreading mosquito, Anopheles stephensi.  

The arrival of our new team members coincides with the completion of our first laboratory facilities in Djibouti, from which the team will manage field operations, the rearing of Anopheles stephensi non-biting male mosquitoes for field assessment, and study of field-collected samples. Specialists from our UK labs near Oxford have been visiting the new Djibouti hub to offer support and shared experiences with the project team.  

On starting at Oxitec, Jackson Nyarko, Field Operations Manager said “My role at Oxitec is a perfect opportunity to fulfil my desire to contribute to the control of diseases of poverty, and my passion for working directly with people and local communities. I am hopeful that our Anopheles stephensi program in Djibouti, when successfully completed, will be a major step towards contributing to the elimination of malaria in Africa.” 

Dr Bouh Abdi Khaireh, Director of Oxitec’s partner in Djibouti – the public health NGO, Association Mutualis – said, “There is an urgent need for sustainable and effective new tools to help Djibouti’s National Malaria Control Program to manage the Anopheles stephensi mosquito in communities. As we expand our exciting partnership with Oxitec, we’re delighted to welcome Jackson and Deka to the Djibouti Friendly™ Mosquito Program.”  

The Djibouti Friendly™ Mosquito Program has been monitoring populations of Anopheles stephensi in Djibouti for the past year, assessing mosquito breeding sites, effective trapping methods, and the abundance of this mosquito in Djiboutian communities. These results will yield insights into the extent of the Anopheles stephensi invasion in Djibouti, and will inform the next research phase of this pilot program.