CHALLENGES
“If we continue with a ‘business as usual’ approach – employing the same level of resources and the same interventions – we will face near-certain increases in malaria cases and deaths”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO Director General, 2017.
The fight against Malaria is a crossroad due to the combined effect of funding shortage, unachieved universal coverage, and widespread insecticide resistance to pyrethroids – the main insecticide class currently used in LLINs –. As a result, after unprecedented global success in Malaria control, progress has stalled, according to the World Malaria Report 2017: “the estimated number of malaria cases reached 216 million, marking a return to 2012 levels. Deaths stood at 445,000 in 2016, a similar number to the previous year… the declining trend in malaria cases and deaths plateaued”
From our position as a LLIN manufacturer, we at MAINPOL are making every effort to offset these undesirable results through our commitment to innovate and by addressing these three major challenges:
CHALLENGES
SOLUTIONS
CHALLENGE
#1 Universal coverage of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets
Sleeping under a LLIN is the most common and most effective way to prevent infection. Universal coverage is defined as pillar 1 of the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030 (GTS). However, available funds are not sufficient to achieve this goal. According to WHO reports in 2016, an estimated 54% of people at risk of Malaria in Sub- Saharan Africa slept under an LLIN.
SOLUTION
Cost reduction
Private sector contribution must focus on minimizing LLIN production costs allowing more tools out in the field to protect a higher percentage of people at risk.
Due to MAINPOL’s continuous effort to improve manufacturing efficiencies, specific know-how, and process innovations, SafeNet® has unquestionably become one of the most affordable LLINs in the market today.
CHALLENGE
#2 Insecticide resistance to pyrethroids
According to the World Malaria Report, LLINs continue to be an effective tool for malaria prevention, even in areas where mosquitoes have developed resistance to pyrethroids. However, rising resistance to pyrethroids in malaria vectors pose a serious threat to effectiveness of LLINs in years to come.
SOLUTION
New tools with alternative insecticides
Industry needs to come up with new tools such as LLINs with innovative insecticides to which malaria vectors are susceptible. MAINPOL is working diligently towards introducing a novel product to the market which will be able to tackle resistant mosquitos like no other product in the market up to date. The prototype is under development….further news will be provided soon!
CHALLENGE
#3 Overwhelming logistic costs to reach end users
Most of the LLIN manufacturing sites are located far away from the end-users. There is a significant logistic cost to reach the end users, all the way from the manufacturing site in the country of origin, up to the last mile at the country of destination. Manufacturing sites located in Africa would save costs, and release additional funds for procurement of LLINs.
SOLUTION
Empowering Africa
Mainpol has been working with local authorities in two African countries to establish manufacturing cells in Special Economic Zones. We are delighted with the progress made so far and will continue working hard to make this a reality in the near future.