Spotlight on malaria, indoor residual spraying

The RBM vector control working group, with GBCHealth and other partners, envision this workshop as a forum for a corporate-to-corporate dialogue on malaria control and IRS best practices, showing that malaria control makes 'good business sense' and contributes not just to the health and welfare of the surrounding communities, but to mutual economic gain through reduced healthcare costs, absenteeism and increased productivity.

IRS - a highly effective method of malaria control - is a key anti-malaria intervention recommended by the World Health Organisation. By spraying small amounts of human and environment safe insecticides to the inside walls of houses, IRS can help protect residents from malarial infection for up to one year.

Many African countries are currently scaling up the use of IRS, and several private sector companies are also beginning to use IRS in their malaria control programs. The two-day workshop will provide business leaders with a unique opportunity to learn from leading international experts about running a successful IRS campaign - an effort that requires considerable planning, research, logistical expertise and infrastructure, as well as comprehensive training of public health workers.

Proof of success

One company that has experienced significant success integrating IRS into their malaria control efforts is AngloGold Ashanti, a sponsor of the workshop. According to Brian Mathibe, vice president of health in the Africa region, when AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) began using IRS, malaria cases in the communities surrounding its Obuasi mine in Ghana were reduced by more than 60% over a five-year period. Inside the fence, the number of malaria cases seen at AGA's hospital has declined by over 75%.

"Since we started the program, the reduced incidence of malaria has resulted in a significant increase in mine productivity and malaria treatment costs to the company have declined by over 80%," said Mathibe. "This is a clear win-win opportunity; communities are healthier and we are realising an incredible return on our investment in malaria control."

"IRS partnerships are proving to be among the most effective and sustainable ways of rapidly reducing malaria cases and saving lives," said RBM executive director Awa Coll Seck. "In pursuing their private business interests to reduce the threat of malaria, several leading corporations have contributed impressively to public health goals and have saved countless lives. We thank and congratulate these companies and invite others to join them."

IRS will not harm environment

Another sponsor of the IRS workshop is Bayer, a major manufacturer and developer of malaria control products. "Our continuous investment in new public health insecticides that will meet future challenges speaks to Bayer's commitment to the long term fight against malaria," said Sylvestre Jobic, county group head of SSA. "At Bayer we value environmental quality and human health very highly, and work to ensure that our public health insecticides used in IRS programs will not harm the environment or those who look to Bayer to protect their loved ones from infection."

"This private sector IRS workshop is an excellent example of how the private sector is successfully working with the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and the governments of malaria-endemic countries to save lives from an entirely preventable and curable disease," said GBCHealth managing director Michael Schreiber.