Malaria Prevention Project RMB@Y2K (3)
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Source: malaria@wehi.edu.au
Dear Jacques and Emmanuel,
It seems that the "Roll back Malaria" campaign has reached this mail
group also. It is probably also correct - at least for now - to
evaluate bednets as a major tool. Still, it should not be forgotten
that the experience gained with several years of bednet programmes
are mixed. As pointed out by Emmanuel, re-impregnation is a big prob-
lem, and another problem is lack of use, and - not to be forgotten -
people get bitten before they go to bed and hide under nets.
The nets used for most of these campaigns have been polyester or cot-
ton bednets, meaning nets with a lot of small holes making breathing
easier and that let some air pass so that you do not have uncomfort-
able feeling of being enclosed (it is hot even by night in Africa).
Even then, many people do not like the nets feeling that it is too
hot under the net. As soon as the rainy season is over, nets are put
away despite that several investigations demonstrate that this is the
peak transmission period.
The 1 dollar bednets are very tightly woven (like the silky cotton
inside a jacket), so I fear they may be even less used. At least, be-
fore selling this bed- net to donors and scientists, a combined ento-
mological and sociological study should evaluate a bednet which is so
different from all the net types used in previous studies. Surely,
the price is a strong argument, but if frequency of use is very much
reduced, what is the point?
Ole Skovmand, Ph D MSc,
Consulting
80, Rue Pauline Ramart
F-34070 Montpellier, France
Tel: +33-467-75-78-58
mailto:ole.skovmand@mpl.orstom.fr
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