AFRO-NETS> Treated bednet material (3)

Treated bednet material (3)
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Source: malaria@wehi.edu.au

In reply to Jan Conradie:

As Ole Skovmand says, there's no big secret to the making of
impregnated nets. But you should aware that:-

(a) The cost of the material is usually 80% or more of the total
    manufacturing cost of the net, in other words the sewing is
    only a small component.

(b) I think it's a MISTAKE to sell PRE-TREATED nets, for the
    following reasons:

   (i) The supposed advantages of pre-treated nets are that they show
       new users the benefits of the insecticide, and that they
       ensure that at least the initial treatment is done properly.
       BUT people who have never used a net before, and then get one
       that is already treated, are likely to attribute their new-
       found freedom from bites to the visible, tangible effects of
       the net, and not to the insecticide. People who are already
       used to an untreated net, by contrast, can immediately
       perceive the difference made by the addition of the
       insecticide. We have seen this in our work in Dar es Salaam,
       developing a "dip-it-yourself" kit.

   ii) Giving out pre-treated nets merely postpones the problem of
       how to distribute the insecticide. Nets have to be re-treated
       every 6-12 months, and more often if they are washed. There
       are plenty of places in East Africa where projects focussed
       mainly on the "net problem", and neglected or postponed
       efforts to provide for re-treatment, and in these areas you
       will find plenty of nets that were treated once and never
       again.

    I am firmly convinced that nets and insecticide are completely
    different kinds of commodity, and need to be considered
    separately when thinking about distribution. (I wrote in detail
    about the differences between nets and insecticide, as
    commodities for distribution, in:- "Mosquito nets and insecticide
    for net treatment: a discussion of existing and potential
    distribution systems in Africa" [Tropical Medicine and
    International Health Vol. 1, 1996, pages 616-632]).

    See also the "NET GAIN" book available from IDRC, contact:

    renouf@fox.nstn.ca

(c) There is a net factory called Sunflag in Northern Tanzania. They
    don't officially export, but they reckon that some of their nets
    ("Mmbu" is the name of the brand) do cross into Malawi.

    For details about this, see the AHRTAG "Directory" which gives
    addresses and details of suppliers of both nets and insecticide
    all over Africa. Available from:

    ahrtag@gn.apc.org
    or:
    http:/www.poptel.org.uk/ahrtag/

(d) Contact Andrew Boner at:

    aboner@psiwash.org

    He's starting up a major social marketing project in Malawi and
    must also be thinking about procurement. There may be room for
    other collaboration too.

Jo Lines
mailto:J.LINES@lshtm.ac.uk

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