1999 Articles

IRI-CR/99/2: Climate Prediction and Diseases/Health in Africa. Results from a Regional Training Course. Bamako, Mali. March 22 - April 9, 1999.

Tourre, Y.

The training course on Climate Prediction and Diseases/Health in Africa, was convened in Bamako, Mali between 22 March and 9 April 1999. It was organized by the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI) in collaboration with the Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d’ Odonto-Stomatologie (FMPOS) and Direction Nationale de la Météorologie (DNM) du Mali. The course was co-sponsored by the African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Institut de Recherches pour le Developpement (IRD) and the US National Institute of Health (NIH).

The objectives of the IRI training course were:
-To expose professionals of the climate and health sectors from Africa to state-of-the-art climate and health science, climate and diseases/health monitoring and seasonal-to-inter- annual climate predictions;
-To explore the linkages between physical and biological mechanisms relative to climate variability and epidemics;
-To foster application of regional climate prediction to preparedness and decision-making processes in the health sector;
-To provide a cross-fertilization, exchange of ideas, expertise and analytical tools between climate and health researchers from other countries and continents.

I would like to thank the Dean of FMPOS, Professor Yeya Touré from the Malaria Research and Training Center (MRTC), Dr. Konaré, Director of Direction Nationale de la Météorologie du Mali as well as the members of the Malian organizing committee for their continuing assistance. Special thanks to Dr. Bob Gwatz and Chris Whalen from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dr. Cheik Traore (MRTC) for their logistic supports and making sure that everything was in excellent working order at all times. Special thanks also to Dr. Jacques Merle (IRD) for his enthusiasm leading to the participation of eight health experts from IRD. Juli Trtjan, Macol Stewart (NOAA/OGP) and Sally Findley (Columbia University School of Public Health) provided very useful input in the design of the syllabus.

A very special recognition to Drs. Mohamed Senouci (my right arm) and Rachid Bessaoud (ACMAD) for their contributions at all levels including daily assistance to the trainees and their respective projects.

Thanks are extended also to all the lecturers, institutions and organizations involved in this training course, and to Ann Binder (IRI) for keeping all organizational details on track.

Mr. Mohamed Sadek Boulahya, Director of ACMAD and Dr. Idrissa Also, Director du Service Meteorologique du Niger made this training course become a reality.

Yves M. Tourre
Director, IRI Training Program