The 3SI-CONTROL project has reached another important milestone with the successful completion of a large-scale household enumeration exercise in the Chipembe catchment area, Nyimba District, Eastern Province, Zambia. Led by PhD students, the activity forms part of the preparations for the upcoming 3SI cluster-randomized clinical trial, which will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel fixed-dose combination of albendazole and ivermectin co-administered with praziquantel for the integrated control of Taenia solium, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), and schistosomiasis (SCH).
During the exercise, the research team visited approximately 2,000 households, covering a population of more than 9,000 people. In addition to collecting baseline demographic information, the team gathered data on pig ownership and husbandry practices, identifying more than 350 pigs across the study area. As pigs are the intermediate host of Taenia solium, this study will utilise them as sentinels in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the MDA. The enumeration also served as an opportunity to introduce the study to community members, strengthening trust and promoting transparency ahead of the trial.
The data collected will provide a solid foundation for participant recruitment, resource allocation, and implementation planning when the clinical trial begins. As part of the 3SI-CONTROL project, this milestone reinforces the consortium’s commitment to developing integrated, evidence-based strategies to reduce the burden of neglected helminth infections and improve the health of communities in Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique.
The 3SI-CONTROL project brings together partners from Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique to develop integrated and sustainable strategies for the control of Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and schistosomiasis. By combining clinical research with community engagement and implementation science, the project aims to generate evidence that will support more effective control of neglected tropical diseases and contribute to improved health outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa.
