Shaukat Abdulrazak, Director of the Division for Africa of the IAEA Department of Technical Cooperation (TCAF) visited Senegal from 11 to 14 October 2017 to discuss and explore ways to enhance the long-term IAEA technical cooperation programme with Senegal. He was accompanied by the Programme Management Officer responsible for implementing the technical cooperation project aimed at eradicating the Tsetse fly in Senegal[1].
This award winning project[2] uses a nuclear application known as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), a form of insect birth control involving ionizing radiation, to eradicate the tsetse fly in the Niayes. SIT is implemented through the Joint FAO/IAEA Division.
The Director was welcomed by H.E. Mary Teuw Niane, Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Senegal, Prof. Amadou Thierno Gaye, Director General for Research, and Prof. Coumba Thiandome, National Liaison Officer for IAEA Affairs. Mr Abdulrazak also took part in a controlled aerial and ground release of sterile insects.
During a high level meeting with the Prime Minister of Senegal H.E. Mahammed Dionne, Mr Abdulrazak congratulated Senegal for the significant advances made in livestock production using SIT. Topics discussed included the important role of the Senegal Authority for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (ARSN), and the urgent need to strengthen national capabilities with financial and human resources.
The Director also held subsequent meetings with Minister Tew Niane, H.E. Abdoulaya Diouf Sarr, Minister of Health, H.E. Aminata Mbengue Ndiaye, Minister of Livestock, and Lamine Lo, Secretary General, Ministry of Agriculture.
African Trypanosomiasis - Tsetse flies are blood-sucking insect pests that threaten food security in the Niayes, a coastal area south east of Dakar. Their bites jeopardize livestock health, and the flies themselves transmit parasites that carry a life-threatening infection to livestock known as African animal trypanosomiasis. These flies can lower quality of life and lead to a loss of milk and meat provided by livestock, which significantly affects farmers’ livelihoods and stifles local development.
