Proceedings of the 31st biennial conference of the International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and control (ISCTRC), Publication No. 126, Bamako, Mali, 2011

The 31st International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control General Conference was held at the Centre International De Conference De Bamako (CICB), Bamako, Mali as from 12th-16th September 2011. The theme of the Conference was ‘Refocusing Research and Control of Tsetse and Trypanosomiais: A Development Agenda’. The Conference was officially opened by the Prime Minister and Head of Government, Her Excellency Mme Cisse Mariam Kaidama Sidibe. The opening Ceremony was also graced by the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Hon Dr. Bokary Treta, Representative of the World Health Organisation in Mali, Madame Diallo Faoumata Binta Tidiane, Director of AU-PANVAC, Dr. Karim Tounkara, representing the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, Madame Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Director of AU-IBAR, Prof. Ahmed Elsawalhy among other dignitaries. In her speech, the Prime Minister urged scientists to bring research to the doorstep of the rural poor who bear the scourge of tsetse and trypanosomiasis. The Director of AUIBAR, Dr Ahmed El-Sawalhy, complemented the call of the Prime Minister, by reiterating the commitment of AU-IBAR to removing the tsetse and trypanosomiasis burden from the African Continent.