RFI: Source for white mosquito netting (10)
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We've heard several pitches from net suppliers on this list. Most of
them don't have much presence in unsubsidised African textile mar-
kets, which are almost entirely supplied by African manufacturers.
As far as I am aware, we have not yet heard from any African net
manufacturers. The Tanzanian manufacturers - possibly the others too
- make nets that are every bit as good, in terms of quality and
price, as Asian nets. I suppose we haven't heard from them because
they don't specialise in selling to projects. Some projects neverthe-
less make a point of trying to buy from these African suppliers, as
it represents another way to support the growth of local net markets.
Here are some contacts in Tanzania:
1. A to Z <azpfl@yako.habari.co.tz>
2. Sunflag <sunflagtz@jhjacks.com>
3. TMTL <antony@raha.com>
and in Kenya:
4. Polo Industries Ltd
Sunil L. Wanzah (MD)
Enterprise Road
P.O. Box 11265
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-2-552-400 / 535-266
mailto:polo.net@computervisions.com (not sure about this e-mail)
5. Nets Ltd.
P. J. Shah (Director)
P.O. Box 11473
Nairobi, Kenya,
Tel: +254-2-535-116
mailto:netsnets@net2000ke.com
6. Mossnet Industries Ltd
Michael Oddenyo (Director)
Mombasa Road
P.O. Box 4630
Nairobi, Kenya,
Tel: +254-2-535-128
mailto:mossnet@africaonline.co.ke
There are also several manufacturers in Nigeria and in other West Af-
rican countries. For other contacts in Africa, I think PATH CANADA
<path@csih.org> maintains a list.
PS:
There are some tens of millions of nets in use in Africa, and the
great majority (>90%?) were supplied by the unsubsidised commercial
market. Recent evidence from Tanzania (Schellenberg et al. Lancet
357:1241-47) suggests that untreated nets are approximately half as
good as treated nets at preventing child deaths. If so, it means that
in most African countries, many more lives are saved every year by
the unsubsidised commercial net market than by donor-supported ITN
projects.
Jo Lines
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Keppel St. London WC1E 7HT, UK
mailto:Jo.Lines@lshtm.ac.uk
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