Rodrigue Fiacre Ahoumènou

Agossa

Chief of Party, PMI VectorLink Project, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Rodrigue Fiacre Ahoumènou Agossa is a public health entomologist with 12 years of experience in control and elimination of infectious diseases, particularly malaria control programs. His expertise includes project management; research; vector control tools development and evaluation; case management; and health system strengthening. He also has worked on development, consolidation, and popularization of norms, policies, and guidelines for the fight against malaria and neglected tropical diseases.

In his current role since 2017, Agossa has managed projects and tasks to achieve PMI VectorLink’s objectives and deliver results. He set up polymerase chain reaction equipment in entomological units at “Intitut National de Recherche Biomedicale (INRB). He also established a container in-box-insectary and some additional offices. Agossa has published two papers based on project data. He helped the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) set up the vector Control Working Group and co-led the meetings. He supervised three direct staff members and more than 40 subcontractor staff members. He also collaborated with the NMCP, Global Fund, World Health Organization (WHO), and Ministry of Health.

Before assuming his current role, Agossa produced PMI AIRS DRC’s national insecticide resistance management plan for the DRC. He served as the malaria focal point for “Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou (CREC)” for the implementation of school-based distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets. He conducted advocacy visits to targeted provinces, led macro and microplanning sessions, and supported coordination committees at all levels in the distribution chain.

As a research assistant for CREC, he coordinated malaria control activities, served as IRS operations manager, and participated in the administrative management and the supervision of trainees on the implementation of vector control operations.

Expertise:

Global public health programs, policies, and regulations
Training and technical assistance
Vector control methods and management
Project management
Laboratory practices
Analytical skills

Key Projects:

First investigation of genetic diversity in malaria vectors in the DRC and the implications for the spread of insecticide resistance. Pan African Mosquito Control Association. Co-principal investigator (CoPI).
Evaluation of lymphatic filariasis treatment impact by the xenomonitoring in five endemic districts under mass drug administration in Benin, West Africa. CoPI, African Network for Neglected Tropical Disease.
Efficacy of a novel mode of action of Imergard wettable powder and its mixture with deltamethrin wettable granule in IRS against susceptible and resistant strains of Anopheles gambiae s.s populations and other culicidae in experimental huts in Benin, West Africa. PI, Imerys Filtration Minerals Inc., USA
Environmental factors influencing insecticide resistance in the main malaria vector Anopheles gambiae sensu lato. PI, British Ecological Society, UK.
Expanding the evaluation of Disease Data Management System in Benin, CoPI, WHO/Tropical Disease Research.

Publications:

Jean M. Deguenon, Roseric Azondekon, Fiacre R. Agossa, Gil G. Padonou2, Rodrigue Anagonou, Juniace Ahoga, Boris N’dombidje, Bruno Akinro, David A. Stewart, Charles S. Apperson, Marian G. McCord,Martin C. Akogbeto& R. Michael Roe. Game changer for malaria control in Africa: an insecticidal mineral from volcanic glassefficacious against pyrethroid susceptible and resistant mosquitoes. Insects. 2020 May; 11(5): 322.
Francis Wat’senga, Fiacre Agossa, Emile Z. Manzambi, Gillon Illombe, Tania Mapangulu, Tamfum Muyembe, Tiffany Clark, Mame Niang,Ferdinand Ntoya, Aboubacar Sadou, Mateusz Plucinski,Louisa A. Messenger,Christen Fornadel, Richard M.Oxborough, Seth R. Irish. Intensity of pyrethroid resistance in An. gambiaes.l.before and after a mass distribution of insecticide treated nets in Kinshasa and from 11 provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Malar J. 2020; 19: 169.
Oxborough RM, Seyoum A, Yihdego Y, Dabire R, Gnanguenon V, Wat'senga F, Agossa FR, Yohannes G, Coleman S, Samdi LM, Diop A, Faye O, Magesa S, Manjurano A, Okia M, Alyko E, Masendu H, Baber I, Sovi A, Rakotoson JD, Varela K, Abong'o B, Lucas B, Fornadel C, Dengela D. Susceptibility testing of Anopheles malaria vectors with the neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin; results from 16 African countries, in preparation for indoor residual spraying with new insecticide formulations. Malar J. 2019 Aug 1;18(1):264.
Agossa FR, Padonou GG, Koukpo CZ, Zola-Sahossi J, Azondekon R, Akuoko OK, Ahoga J, N'dombidje B, Akinro B, Fassinou AJYH, Sezonlin M, Akogbeto MC. Efficacy of a novel mode of action of an indoor residual spraying product, SumiShield® 50WG against susceptible and resistant populations of Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) in Benin, West Africa. Parasit Vectors. 2018 May 10;11(1):293.
Christopher M. Jones, Milindu Liyanapathirana, Agossa Fiacre, Hilary Ranson, Martin J.Donnelly & Craig S. Wilding. Footprints of positive selection acting upon the knockdown resistance allele are associated with a novel mutation (N1575) in the voltage gated sodium channel of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.s. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109 (17), 6614-6619, 2012.

Countries Served In:

Democratic Republic of Congo