PREVAIL 5 Study Makes Progress

-As Liberia, Sierra Leon & Guinea Set To Enroll 4900

By Reuben Sei Waylaun

The Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL), a Liberia-US Joint clinical research partnership six study is making progress according to officials.

PREVAIL is conducting a study to help Liberians and those in the other affected countries (Sierra Leon & Guinea) to defeat Ebola.

According to scientists and others, the purpose of the study is to see whether or not genes have anything to do with a person getting sick from Ebola and to understand whether genes help fight.

The maiden part of the study was in 2015 at the borough of New Kru Town in Bushrod island.

Speaking at a one-day PREVAIL Ebola Natural History Study (ENHS) Social Mobilization, Community Engagement, Outreach and awareness national consultative stakeholders’ meeting on the ENHS, PREVAIL 5&6 studies at the Monrovia City hall Thursday, the Advocacy Lead of PREVAIL, Joseph Boye Cooper recounted that the studies have been successful as a result of community involvement since 2015.

Cooper said they continue to receive the overwhelming support of the community people at all levels, something he said shows that Liberians are willing to fight the disease despite it absence and also at the verge of making history as a nation.

PREVAIL 5& 6 studies are collaborative efforts among the three most affected countries in the Mano River Union (MRU) region.

He said the new studies looking at how the vaccine works, and how long it stays in people and whether it can easily work in children as well.

Cooper revealed that the three countries are targeting 4900 persons for enrollment. This, he said 3500 adults are targeted and 1400 children as well.

“No specific number for a particular country. Liberia has enrolled 1268 adults and 952 children. So far, 2220 persons have been enrolled in the PREVAIL 5 vaccine research study,” he said.

The PREVAIL Advocacy Lead said the three most affected countries are also related and they must work together to achieve the objectives of the vaccine.

For his part, the PI for PREVAIL in Liberia, Dr. Mosoka Fallah said the PREVAIL 6 study has so far shown that a pregnant woman who once suffered from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cannot affect the unborn baby.

Dr. Fallah also said men who once suffered from the disease are showing signs of not having the virus in their sperms.

The Social Mobilization, Community Engagement, Outreach and awareness national consultative stakeholders’ meeting on the ENHS, PREVAIL 5&6 studies is being held in collaboration with the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP).