[afro-nets] AFRO-NETS is about malaria (31)

[Tom Oconnell <tsoconnell2@yahoo.com>]

AFRO-NETS is about malaria (31)
-------------------------------

Hi George,

Check the references in the first posting, especially WHO's rec-
ommendations on the use of pesticides for malaria control, such
as the WHO FAQ on the use of DDT.

The short answer to your question is that the WHO supports the
use of an appropriate pesticide in a given context, based on
evidence and local conditions. The specific recommendation var-
ies greatly depending on geography, the disease in question, and
environmental factors (e.g. will the pesticide/ insecticide be
used near food-growing areas or close to a source of drinking
water).

For details, see the WHO web page on pesticide use and health:
http://www.who.int/topics/pesticides/en/

The WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) web site also can
answer most of your questions:
http://www.who.int/whopes/en/

WHOPES is composed of representatives of governments, manufac-
turers of pesticides and pesticide application equipment, WHO
Collaborating Centres and research institutions, & the Interna-
tional Programme on Chemical Safety. It supports research on the
"safety, efficacy and operational acceptability of public health
pesticides." WHOPES helps countries develop effective quality-
control standards; e.g. how to assess which pesticide is best to
use, what alternatives exist, what environmental factors to con-
sider, etc.

Malaria-specific options are given by RBM's web site on Inte-
grated Vector Management:
http://www.who.int/malaria/ivm_publichealthpesticides.html

There you can find many references to help decision-makers
evaluate the use of pesticides, e.g. Guidelines on the manage-
ment of public health pesticides.


Best,

Tom O'Connell
mailto:tsoconnell2@yahoo.com