Travel report of Anne-Sophie Heroes to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

April 5, 2023

Bacteriology

Anne-Sophie Heroes traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo together with Gaëtan Van Aelst, ITM Clinical Trials Unit, and Justin Im, International Vaccine Institute, for a follow-up and monitoring visit of the THECA – TyVECO study, a Typhoid conjugate vaccine effectiveness study.

1) Since February 2022, children between 9 months and 16 years old in Kisantu Health Zone are invited to get a Typbar-TCV® vaccine (Bharat Biotech) in one of the mobile vaccine tents. Every tent contains several stations: registration, informed consent, medical selection, vaccination, post-vaccination observation.

Stock and cold chain in Kisantu Saint-Luc hospital – Ignace Mututi

Vaccine carrier with FridgeTag, vaccine doses and cold packs

Informed consent forms: stock at the CBR centre

Observation, handing over vaccination card and explain safety substudy follow-up

2) Effectiveness of the vaccine is measured by blood culture surveillance in a selection of health centers and Saint-Luc hospital in Kisantu Health Zone. During the current site visit, we evaluated the switch from paper study forms to electronic data capture in tablets in a health center, the hospital wards and the study laboratory:

Kavwaya health center: Sandra Vangu, Jules Mbuyamba, Junior Yuvula, Tony Mbambi Ngimbi

Study laboratory: Siméon Luyeye, Blanche Kimbembi, Brigitte Mapendo, Anne-Sophie Heroes, Jules Mbuyamba

Narcisse Diakiese consulting a typhoid fever patient

3) Group picture of a part of the TyVECO study team in front of the study centre in Kisantu.

Part of the TyVECO study team in front of the study centre in Kisantu, from left to right: Jules Mbuyamba, Adrienne Mbewa, Sandra Vangu, Narcisse Diakiese, Octavie Lunguya, Anne-Sophie Heroes, Tressy Ndimba Mbuya, Justin Im, Gaëtan Van Aelst, Siméon Luyeye, Junior Yuvula, Juvénal Dienda, Cliff Mbangu, Brigitte Mapendo.

The rectors and delegates of KU Leuven and Université Catholique de Louvain visited Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in Kinshasa on Friday 17^th March 2023. Being affiliated both to KU Leuven and ITM, Bieke and Anne-Sophie were honoured to present their PhD research together with their INRB supervisor Prof. Octavie Lunguya.