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The Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología (INHEM) and the Instituto de Medicina Tropical (IMT) received Cuba’s highest research honour for their work to prevent dengue fever.

 

Every year the Cuban Academia de Ciencias (Academy of Science) recognizes the country’s most outstanding scientific and technical research.

 

INHEM and IMT, with the University of British Columbia, helped communities in Cotorro and five councils in Havana’s city-centre identify the breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, and also determined other behaviours that put residents at risk.

 

Since the late 1970s, Cuba has experienced several epidemics of the potentially lethal dengue hemorrhagic fever. With IDRC support, the research team used an ecohealth approach, which sought to improve human health through better management of the ecosystem.

 

Vijaya Lakshmi has been awarded India’s National Award for Women’s Development through Application of Science and Technology for 2007.

 

Lakshmi is the Assistant Vice President of Development Alternatives, the world-renowned technology-oriented non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development in India.  She  was recognized for her role in developing the low-cost, easy-use, portable Jal TARA water testing kit and water filter which are credited with reducing mortality rates from waterborne diseases in Central India’s Bundelkhand region.

 

India’s President, Pratibha Devisingh Patil presented the award on International Women’s Day, March 8.

 

The annual prize is awarded  to two Indian women who have been judged to improve women’s lives using science and technology at the grassroot-level.

Lakshmi has also been investigating health and environmental risks in the stone quarrying and crushing industries in the state of Madhya Pradesh as part of an IDRC-supported project.  

 

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