Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Dakar has been monitoring demographic trends in the rural district of Niakhar, 150km east of Dakar since 1962.
Specific studies have been conducted on fertility, health-seeking behaviour, methods for the prevention of malaria, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, nutrition and maternal mortality.
The centre has well-trained and experienced field and laboratory staff. Niakhar is one of the three sites involved in Meningitis Vaccine Project trials of meningococcal A conjugate vaccine and has experience of carriage surveys for Bordetella pertussis. There is a microbiology laboratory on site that can undertake bacterial culture and serogrouping.