(asked in 2005)

1. What are the biases among Western scientists that make your work harder?

In the past the international scientific community was not aware of the potential uses of Endod in controlling water born diseases in tropical and subtropical regions; nor were the various agencies including WHO particularly enthusiastic about looking into the merit of this natural product.


2. What is the focus of your work today?

The focus of my work is to continue with the application of Endod use combining scientific knowledge with existing time tested practices relating to the multiple uses of Endod.


3. Are there other examples for indigenous illness prevention methods that should be much more widely applied?
 
One example I can mention in this regards is the potential curative use of Artemisa annua in the treatment of Malaria patients in tropical regions. I have been involved with other colleagues in relevant research and development of this natural product through an indigenous company known as Ethio agri-CEFT PLC. in rural Ethiopia.


4. Does Endod kill none-target animals like fish?

Yes, Endod does kill fish like all other synthetic molluscidides, but Endod does not affect or kill fish eggs.


5. Is Endod safe for the environment?

Endod is a natural product, biodegradable, so Endod is environmentally safe. Endod will be disintegrated within 48 hours after affecting the target vector snails, leeches, mosquito-larvae within 24 hours.


6. What effect has the RLA had on your work?

Since the RLA in 1989, Endod received recognition by the WHO Expert Committee (1991) on the safe use of pesticides as molluscicide for general use. The recognition was based on the development and availability of a standard extract called Endod-S from E44 by an international consortium of laboratories and results of the toxicological studies, supported among others by IDRC (Candada). The results from toxicological studies showed no mutagenicity, extremely low mammalian toxicity and modest but acceptable aquatic ecotoxicity thus paving the way for wide field application and use. It is now very well ascertained that Endod can be used in detergent formulation in the control of bilharzia transmitting snails, zebra mussels and mosquito-larvae. Endod is also of use in the control of leeches and liver fluke transmitting snails.