Programme de bourses "Echanges Universitaires"

Health and Sanitation - Visit of Dr. Dongo Kouassi at EAWAG/SANDEC

Dr. Dongo Kouassi (Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques & Université de Cocody) completed his PhD thesis on integrated water and waste management in poor informal settlements in Abidjan in July 2006 at the Université de Cocody (Uni Cocody) within the framework of NCCR North South programme at Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Cote d’Ivoire (CSRS). Subsequently, the University of Cocody offered him a lecturer position at the Unité de Formation et de Recherche des Sciences de la Terre et des Ressources Minières (UFR-STRM). Dr Dongo remained linked closely to CSRS, assisting PhDs and Masters Students involved in the second phase of the NCCR North South at the national and regional levels, and conducting various thematic field projects.

The academic position held by Dr Dongo at the Université de Cocody constituted an opportunity to reinforce the collaboration with the Université de Cocody, the CSRS, Eawag/Sandec and STI.

During his scientific visit and collaboration with researchers from Eawag/Sandec and STI, two manuscripts were finalized for submission to peer-reviewed journals.

1. Improving the Health and Vulnerability Status of Underprivileged Populations in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. This paper describes results from a study analyzing environmental risk factors in deprived settlements to develop interventions for improvement of the health status of the population. The applied transdisciplinary approach used remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and various field surveys, such as interviews, household surveys and geographical surveys and observations. Strategies for mitigating environmental health risks were subsequently developed using an integrated participatory workshop.
   
2. Evaluation of human exposure to toxic waste containing high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. In August 2006, toxic waste containing high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide was dumped at different sites in the city of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The presented research evaluated exposure of the population to these toxic pollutants. The methodology, comprised a retrospective epidemiological study, based on sampling using the transect technique and including medical doctors’ diagnoses. In three municipalities where the toxic waste had been dumped, 809 households were visited and 4637 persons diagnosed.

Dr Dongo also used the opportunity of his stay to formulate a research project which was submitted to the NCCR North South (phase 3). The project is entitled:

• Assessment of Western African Countries resilience to climate changes impacts on Urban Water Resources Management

 

Contact:

Dr. Kouassi DONGO                                                  
01 BP 1303                                                                          
Abidjan 01                                                                            
Côte d’Ivoire                                                                        
Tel: (225) 27 47 27 90
Fax: (225) 07 64 85 83                         
E-Mail: kouassi.dongo@csrs.ci / k_dongo@yahoo.fr                       

Chris ZURBRÜGG
Eawag/Sandec
P.O.Box 611
8600 Dübendorf
Switzerland
Tel: +41-44-8235423
E-Mail: zurbrugg@eawag.ch