Conference on control strategies for schistosomiasis in Madagascar (CCSM)

On 11 October 2024 we were delighted to welcome participants to the 2nd edition of CCSM, the Malagasy conference on schistosomiasis. The event took place in the capital of Madagascar, Antananarivo. The conference was hosted at the Carlton Hotel, offering many opportunities for discussion, personal exchange and live networking.

Impressions from the CCSM 2024

A large group of CCSM 2024 conference participants posing together on stage, with event banners in the background, wearing badges and formal attire.

People at the CCSM registration desk signing documents and collecting materials, assisted by event staff, in a conference setting.

The image shows stacks of "CCSM 2024" brochures with a green banner and a photo of people near water, labeled "Programme," alongside other event materials like notepads and pens on a white tablecloth, suggesting a conference setup.

CCSM attendees at a registration table signing documents and interacting with event staff, with others waiting in line in a busy conference environment.

CCSM conference attendees standing in line, holding documents and wearing event badges, some carrying tote bags with "DZIF" branding.

CCSM event staff at a registration table assisting attendees by distributing materials and providing guidance, with tote bags and documents displayed on the table.

A man in a suit and tie speaking into a microphone at a wooden podium during the CCSM 2024 conference.

A woman speaking at the CCSM 2024 conference at a wooden podium, wearing a colorful blouse, with a CCSM 2024 conference banner in the background.

Two CCSM 2024 conference attendees seated, one smiling and the other focused on a phone, wearing green-lanyard badges, surrounded by others in a formal setting.

An attendee seated at the CCSM 2024 conference, reading a booklet with graphs and text, wearing a brown jacket in a formal setting.

Two attendees seated in the CCSM 2024 conference discussing something, wearing event badges with green lanyards, surrounded by others in a formal setting.

A woman presenting at the CCSM 2024 conference at a wooden podium, wearing a colorful dress, with a CCSM 2024 conference banner in the background.

A man in a suit and tie speaking at the CCSM 2024 conference at a wooden podium, with a CCSM 2024 conference banner in the background.

Two CCSM 2024 conference attendees seated together, focused on a laptop screen, wearing event badges with green lanyards in a formal setting.

A man wearing a headset seated among other attendees during a CCSM 2024 conference session, appearing attentive, with others listening or looking at documents.

A man speaking at the CCSM 2024 conference at a wooden podium, reading from his phone, with a banner featuring the Madagascar flag and emblem in the background.

A man wearing glasses and a suit speaking at a wooden podium, addressing an audience at the CCSM 2024 conference.

A group of CCSM 2024 attendees seated during a conference, some engaged with their phones and documents, wearing event badges with green lanyards.

Three women engaged in a discussion in front of research posters at the CCSM 2024 conference, with a small floral centerpiece on a nearby table.

Two men in formal attire engaged in conversation at the CCSM 2024 conference, surrounded by other attendees, with event badges visible.

Three CCSM 2024 attendees engaged in a discussion near a stage, with event banners and a podium visible in the background, in a formal setting.

A seated man in a suit beside displayed CCSM 2024 award boards for travel grants and training scholarships, with a colorful mural in the background.

Two individuals posing with a large certificate for a CCSM 2024 training scholarship, while another person speaks into a microphone nearby on stage.

Two individuals standing together holding a large award certificate for the CCSM 2024 travel grant and training scholarship, with a background featuring decorative artwork.

A large group of CCSM 2024 participants posing together on a stage with conference banners and awards displayed in the foreground, under a well-lit ceiling.

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More than 30 oral and 15 posters presentations stimulated discussion and strengthened networks among 160 policy makers, international experts, health professionals and researchers. Strategies for policy integration were discussed, as well as targeted prevention strategies and integrated diagnostic solutions. A special session was dedicated to women's health, focusing on integrated solutions for female genital schistosomiasis, HIV and HPV.

Furthermore, young researchers received special support: two prizes were awarded for the best presentations. A young Malagasy researcher will benefit from an intensive public health training at the BNITM in Germany and will also attend the European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health (ECTMIH) in Hamburg in October 2025.