[afro-nets] Discussion about WHOPES and Long-lasting InsecticidalNets to control malaria (2)

["Martin Christiansen" <christiansen@tiscali.fr>]

Discussion about WHOPES and Long-lasting Insecticidal Nets to control malaria (2)
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Summum of Hypocrisy

Dear Sirs,

The Vestergaard company is pretty well defending their bread in spite of the fact that their own 1st generation of LLINs wasn't working properly and was very unstable. Nevertheless this article has been sold for about 5 years, until the new and apparently better 2nd generation should be all right. 

However we should never forget that even an un-impregnated bed net is better than nothing at all.

Secondly also don't forget the costs of about 50.000 USD to become WHOPES approved. This is for lots of minor manufacturers crucial. We have two small brands of LLIN tested according to the WHOPES standards and test scheme for 25 washings, but can not afford to go into the full process. Therefore we are selling cheaper. 

However a new generation is about be ready and will be good for 35-50 washings. Then we will need to look for investors to take the step. But now we drop into the middle of this discussion that there is about a 2 years period of leak time before we actually are classified to participate because most tenders asks for already approved articles. 

Perhaps WHO should consider a pre-approval of promising LLIN's, undergone the first phase of the WHOPES test scheme. At lease leaving us with a document to participate in tenders and then let the committees decide. 

Otherwise it's true that you pay more expensive if you want the final WHOPES approval document. And it?s a long and expensive procedure to go through, so it ends up costing more for the end user.

Best regards,

Martin Christiansen
Adrian Health and Education
mailto:christiansen@tiscali.fr