20 May, 2016

The Infectious Diseases Early Warning System’s (iDEWS) South African Research Representative, Dr Neville Sweijd (ACCESS), paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Beryl Sisulu at the Embassy of South Africa in Japan.
Dr Sweijd presented iDEWS’s outline, progress and prospective projects as well as the training courses which are actively taking place in South Africa and Japan with support from Japanese researchers.
Ambassador Sisulu gave words of encouragement and expressed her wish for further cooperation between South Africa and Japan, especially in the fields of science and technology that will benefit not only South Africa, but also the region.

	Meeting		Group Photo

21 April, 2016

A delegation from tThe Infectious Diseases Early Warning System (iDEWS) project delegation from Nagasaki University and JAMSTEC paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Linda Makuleni, the CEO of the South African Weather Service (SAWS). WThe weather data from gathered from SAWS is currently being and will be utilized for correlational analysis with along with infectious diseases data and the development of models. Dr. Linda Makuleni also encouraged project members of the delegation to develop a strong partnership of in research exchanges and capacity development of researchersand capacity of researchers, as well as expressing her high expectationsing for thethe achievements of through the iDEWS project.

	Dr. Linda Makuleni CEO and iDEWS project members

November 23 to December 11, 2015

Short term research and training

The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Nagasaki University (NEKKEN) and Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) Yokohama Institute held iDEWS Research & Training Program for iDEWS Researchers for three weeks from 23 November, 2015. Three researchers were invited to NEKKEN and JAMSTEC Yokohama Institute and had a technical training through their research work with these institute. The trainees commented that they had a good opportunity to learn not only the latest techniques in their field, but also necessary skills and knowledge to conduct collaborative research work with foreign institute. They also want to develop the sustainability of the iDEWS project by sharing their newly acquired techniques and knowledges with their colleagues through presentations in their institutes.

	NEKKEN Director Prof. Morita, and trainees with Prof. Minakwa, and Mr. Hector Chikoore		Trainee had a lecture from Dr. Takayoshi Ikeda; JAMSTEC

October 14 -16, 2015

iDEWS Project Lecture Series

For 3 days from 14 October, 2015, iDEWS Project Lecture Series was held at the University of Limpopo in South Africa. The purpose of the lecture series is to provide opportunities to develop skills in critical thinking with honor’s or master’s students who study in fields of climatology, statistics analysis, public health relevant to malaria in University of Limpopo or Venda. Students enjoyed lectures form iDEWS project researchers, and a multi-disciplinary group work with students different area from other university. Participated students commented that lectures, especially ones from Japanese scientists were stimulating and they want this kind of event held more often.

	Participated 40 students from University of Limpopo and Venda		Lecture from Mr. Philip Kruger ; Senior Manager in Malaria Institute

	Instruction for multi-disciplinary work by Prof. Motoyoshi Ikeda: JAMSTEC

October 12 and 13, 2015

iDEWS Research Symposium and Joint Coordinating Committee

iDEWS Research Symposium took place on 12 October, 2015 at the auditorium in Department of Science and Technology (DST) in Pretoria. Approximately 50 researchers in variety of study field participated and share and discuss their research progresses with the collaborators. On the next day, the 2nd Joint Coordination Committee was held at DST, progresses in administration and their research activities under the project were reported. By reviewing development from start of the project, planning and schedule were also discussed through the meeting.

	Greeting by Ms. Lisa Du Toit, Director : Development Partnerships		iDEWS 2nd Joint Coordinating Committee

September 10 and 11, 2015

Mapping GIS Training

In iDEWS project, Mapping GIS devices are newly installed into Malaria Institute in Tzaneen, which enables researchers to grasp malaria incidents cases in Limpopo and apply the information for future incident predictions through the visualization. The technology requires a two-day training to understand how to operate the devices and process the data through the specific software. The acquired data via the devices will be automatically processed by a program, thus researchers will be able to visualize the geographic data efficiently, without huge time loss for the data entry.

	"Malaria Institute Researchers checking how to operate devices.

August 25, 2015

Inspection and maintenance of Automatic Weather Stations

Climatic data plays inevitable role for the iDEWS project. The data is recorded by the Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), and researchers regularly collect the data. The bulk data is managed in a suitable uniform manner for analysis, which enables them kept at a proper quality. Not only the responsible researchers, but collaborative researchers using the data regularly inspect the AWS, in order to calibrate the devices and check if collected data are all correct.

	Inspection on the AWS by researchers

May 29, 2015

iDEWS Project Meeting

iDEWS Project Meeting took place on May 29, 2015, where project representatives and researcher from both Japan and South Africa confirmed the research progress and operation under the iDEWS project. Locations and detailed activities for the field survey on malaria, pneumonia, and diarrheal diseases were particularly discussed as well as the possible barriers, difficulties and schedule during this fiscal year.

December 9, 2014

A memorial ceremony celebrating a newly issued coffee book “South Afrcia-Japan Cooperation in Science and Technology” took place by South Africa Department of Science and Technology (DST) on December 9, 2015. The book introduced the collaborative works and the development along the 10 years technical cooperation between Japan and South Africa. Dr. Phil Mjwara (DST: Director General) and Mr. Hiroaki Fujiwara (Minister, Embassy of Japan in South Africa) had a messages on the important meanings of the cooperation, and the achievements and future development. In the ceremony, attendants were also discussing further reinforcement of collaboration and plans for ongoing projects.

	Director Mjwara and Minister Fujiwara

November 26, 2014

Professor Noboru Minakawa, (Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University; NEKKEN) visited iDEWS counterparts in South Africa, and attended South African Malaria Elimination Committee (SAMEC) Meeting on 26 November, 2014. In the meeting current barriers and difficulties for malaria elimination held in South Africa today were shared and discussed. It is confirmed that information acquired through iDEWS project activities are also shared in SAMEC, which will reinforce the connection and cooperation.

	SAMEC Meeting

October 22, 2014

Dr. Ataru Tsuzuki, (Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University; NEKKEN) is assigned as the research expert at the Malaria Institute of Department of Health in Limpopo Province. Dr. Tsuzuki will develop the research activities for malaria prevention, such as malaria data collection and the analysis.

	Malaria Institute in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province		Malaria Institute in Tzaneen, Limpopo Province
	Dr. Tsuzuki set up an Automatic Weather Station

August 6, 2014

1st iDEWS Joint Coordination Committee

In order to confirm the schedule and develop activity plans for iDEWS project, the 1st iDEWS Joint Coordination Committee took place at the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in Pretoria on August 6, 2014. Project representatives and group readers shared their current research progress and the natures based on the Kickoff Symposium held on August 5, 2014 as well as the structures for efficient management of the project.

	iDEWS project Representatives

August 5, 2014

iDEWS Kickoff Symposium

For the kickoff of a new project, iDEWS project symposium was held for both South African and Japanese project researchers to share updated information, such as natures, difficulties, barriers, and the possible solutions. Dr. Phil Mjwara (Director of Department of Science and Technology; DST) and Dr. Frew Benson (XXX of Communicable Diseases) had messaged on the potential impact of iDEWS project and the meaning of national project. Approximately 70 researchers including local university students made a valuable discussion beyond the study areas and generations, which is nice kickoff for the iDEWS project.

	Group Photo