Articles
IDAY-International’s experience with Artemisia
Article number
1462_23
Pages
161 – 166
Language
English
Abstract
IDAY-International is the apex organization of a network of national coalitions of African civil society associations promoting quality basic education.
In 2011, the late Professor Guy Mergeai of the Faculty of Agriculture of Gembloux (Belgium), demonstrated in the Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture of Thies (Senegal) that the Artemisia annua seed from the cultivar ‘Mediplant Apollo’ collected by IDAY at the arboretum of Kenyatta University could be adapted to the Sahel weather conditions.
On the basis of this finding, IDAY members launched 16 school garden projects with A. annua in 11 countries to test impact on several tropical infectious diseases, mainly malaria with the goal to convince African governments to extend the program nationwide.
The projects benefited about 78,200 pupils and 1,830 teachers in 280 schools and 5 prisons.
Independent evaluations have demonstrated the positive impact of the plant, both in terms of Anopheles sp. repellence and as way to prevent and cure malaria and intestinal infections.
School results were enhanced particularly when A. annua was accompanied by highly nutritious crops and school cantinas.
IDAY produced films and booklets in English and French.
Most of the initiatives proved to be unsustainable for technical and institutional reasons.
Most importantly, national Ministries of Education and Health refused to support the use of the plant against malaria because of the opposition by the World Health Organization (WHO). Kenyatta University and international researchers developed a research protocol aimed at demonstrating the prophylactic effects of the plant against malaria following WHO norms.
Discussions with Rollback Malaria, WHO in Geneva and in Brazzaville, lead to the confirmation of WHO interest in research results (letter of May 17, 2017). The research protocol was adopted by the University des Montagnes in Yaoundé which is seeking a partner university in Europe and financing to carry out the research.
In 2011, the late Professor Guy Mergeai of the Faculty of Agriculture of Gembloux (Belgium), demonstrated in the Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture of Thies (Senegal) that the Artemisia annua seed from the cultivar ‘Mediplant Apollo’ collected by IDAY at the arboretum of Kenyatta University could be adapted to the Sahel weather conditions.
On the basis of this finding, IDAY members launched 16 school garden projects with A. annua in 11 countries to test impact on several tropical infectious diseases, mainly malaria with the goal to convince African governments to extend the program nationwide.
The projects benefited about 78,200 pupils and 1,830 teachers in 280 schools and 5 prisons.
Independent evaluations have demonstrated the positive impact of the plant, both in terms of Anopheles sp. repellence and as way to prevent and cure malaria and intestinal infections.
School results were enhanced particularly when A. annua was accompanied by highly nutritious crops and school cantinas.
IDAY produced films and booklets in English and French.
Most of the initiatives proved to be unsustainable for technical and institutional reasons.
Most importantly, national Ministries of Education and Health refused to support the use of the plant against malaria because of the opposition by the World Health Organization (WHO). Kenyatta University and international researchers developed a research protocol aimed at demonstrating the prophylactic effects of the plant against malaria following WHO norms.
Discussions with Rollback Malaria, WHO in Geneva and in Brazzaville, lead to the confirmation of WHO interest in research results (letter of May 17, 2017). The research protocol was adopted by the University des Montagnes in Yaoundé which is seeking a partner university in Europe and financing to carry out the research.
Publication
Authors
R.D. Chougouo Kengne, M. Tamo, J.-J. Schul
Keywords
Artemisia annua, Artemisia school gardens, Artemisia seed production, cultivation obstacles, political obstacles, research WHO norms
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