Hadiza Soumaila

Hadiza Soumaila is a medical entomologist, biologist, and scientist with more than 15 years of global experience in the field entomological surveillance for diseases such as malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever. She has substantial experience in vector-borne diseases and served as head of the Vector Control Unit of Niger’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) for more than 13 years. She has taught biological sciences, hematology, parasitology, and entomology at the Niger National School of Public Health for more than 20 years.

As COP and entomology technical specialist of the President’s Malaria Initiative VectorLink Niger project since 2018, she represents Abt Global at the PMI Niger Mission, the Ministry of Public Health, and other partners. She provides entomological monitoring technical support to the NMCP to provide the NMCP with data for vector control decision making. She has supported national capacity building through:

• Training around 20 entomologists for field entomological data collection
• Working with qualified technicians for the molecular biology laboratory
• Setting up a functional insectary.

Before coming to Abt, Soumaila led the planning and organisation of Niger’s national insecticide-treated nets distribution campaign from 2009 to 2017. She attended to the drafting and evaluations of the Niger NMCP National Strategy plans to fight malaria and helped develop the framework for the national plan for monitoring and management of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors. She also helped draft the Niger pesticide management plan from 2008 to 2012.

Expertise

• Reform of public-health training programs
• Insecticide resistance management
• Entomological assessment of vector-borne disease epidemics such as arbovirus diseases

Key Projects

• Implementation of Rounds 3, 4, 5, 7 of global funds projects for the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria as entomologist of Niger NMCP
• The World Bank Booster Program with vector control material and insecticides acquisition and the implementation of vector control activities (Nets impregnation and larval control)
• President’s Malaria Initiative  VectorLink Niger project

Publications

• Hadiza et al 2017. Multiple mechanisms of resistance to pyrethroids in Anopheles gambiae s.l populations in Niger. Medecine et Maladies Infectieuse ELSEVIER
• Hadiza et al 2018. Evidence and Evolution of Multiple Mechanisms of Resistance to Insecticides in Anopheles gambiae s.l populations in Niger 7th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria conference Dakar
• Gamou Fall*, Diawo Diallo2, Hadiza Soumaila3 First detection of Koutango virus, a particular West Nile virus lineage, in sandflies, Niger, 2016

Countries Served In

• Niger