[afro-nets] Use of DDT against malaria (12)

[Philip Coticelli <pcoticelli@gmail.com>]

Use of DDT against malaria (12)
-------------------------------

Sadly, I think the ambassador's remarks spurn reasonable debate
by assuming an extreme and unprecedented scenario: "Once we use
DDT, the EU will ban all our consumables to their markets," he
claims.

That's quite an indulgent bit of speculation. The fact is that
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South
Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe all use DDT for malaria control and
all export fish or agriculture to the EU. Yet these trade
relationships have not suffered because, in the European
Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso's own words in his
recent letter to Senator Tom Coburn on this subject located
here:

http://coburn.senate.gov/ffm/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&Fil
eStore_id=2398b4b7-e6de-4018-814e-b0f8a9f6b515

"?the EU, together with the US and 149 other countries, has
signed the global Stockholm Convention. *This agreement
explicitly allows the use of DDT for disease control* according
to World Health Organization guidelines. The allegation that the
European Union has threatened partner countries with import bans
following the use of DDT for malaria control is entirely
unfounded. *It is the policy of the European Commission to
recognise the responsibility of each government in its choice of
appropriate malaria control techniques.* All governments using
DDT have agreed to do so according to the strict criteria of the
2001 Stockholm Convention of Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Should food consignments exported to the EU by a partner country
using DDT be found to be contaminated with DDT above accepted
residue levels, *only the affected consignment would be
withdrawn from the market.* It should be noted that there have
been no findings of DDT contamination in food imports of Ugandan
origin and consequently no disruption in trade. This mirrors the
experience with other African exporters of food and food
products to the EU."

END QUOTE

For a more responsible indication of what to expect in Uganda,
please see US Ambassador to Uganda Stephen Browning's assurances
below that the US will finance DDT for malaria control in Uganda
provided the proper regulations for its use are in place.

Philip Coticelli
mailto:pcoticelli@gmail.com


--

US to fund DDT spraying ­ envoy
Thursday, 28th September, 2006

http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/523819

HOPEFUL: UNAS chief Prof. Paul Mugambi and Browning

*By Fred Ouma and Shaban Halima*

THE US government is prepared to fund the spraying of DDT to
control malaria. US ambassador Steven Browning said once the
government puts in place the necessary structures and plans for
the safe use of the insecticide, it would support the campaign.

The World Health organisation recently recommended wider use of
DDT in Africa to eliminate malaria.

Browning said the US's regulations required an environmental
impact statement before supporting the procurement or use of any
pesticide, including DDT and others used for Indoor Residual
Spraying (IRS). IRS involves spraying inside walls to kill
malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Browning also said the regulations emphasised a comprehensive
mechanism to ensure safe use of the pesticide, particularly in
the areas of training personnel, insecticide transportation,
storage, environmental and human health monitoring and
evaluation.

"If the Uganda government requested funds to use DDT in its
indoor spraying programme, and if our strict regulations are
met, the US will provide funds for DDT's use in Uganda's
spraying campaigns. As of now, no such request has been made,"
he said.

Browning said this on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day
forum to provide independent evidence-based advice to the
Government and the public on malaria control and prevention at
Speke Resort, Munyonyo.

Over 50 top scientists, including former Vice-President Dr.
Specioza Wandira, attended a forum jointly organised by the
Uganda National Academy of Science (UNAS) and the US National
Academies.