Uganda health experts are asking the developed world to allow them to strategically deploy DDT-based products to fight malaria.
Here are some stats on malaria:
- Over 10 million Ugandans are infected each year
- Up to 100, medical 000 Ugandans die from malaria each year
Using an inferior product (more expensive, order lasts shorter duration and costs more), Icon, Uganda was able to reduce a 100,000 local population carrying the disease (a key factor in long-term impact on malaria) from 30% to 3%! This investment more than paid for itself in lower healthcare costs and human productivity let alone human suffering.
The issue is that DDT has been banned by western governments since 1972 and international aid requires that receiving countries also ban DDT. There is no plan to use DDT for agriculture (which is why it was banned), but simply for household use to help kill the mosquitoes carrying the malaria disease. While the research now is very clear, G8 environmentalist still are against any uses of DDT.
See full article in WSJ, Give us DDT.
UPDATE 8-20-2007: New York Times article, A New Home for DDT, refers to new research that DDT has the added benefit that mosquitoes which are immune to DDT are still repelled by it making it an extremely effective indoor malaria (and yellow fever and dengue fever) prevention technology.
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Unfortunately DDT cannot be broken down by soil microrganisms, so any strategy based on its widespread use will inevitably lead to bioaccumulation. Nobody is arguing that it is not effective against malaria, but the side effects are drastic.It is old technology – we need to move on and stop living in the past.
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It is old technology- that is extremely cheap, efficient, and undoubtedly works. The risks from bioaccumulation are NOTHING compared to the massive loss of life from malaria each day, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.Over one MILLION people die ANNUALLY, due to malaria, most from third-world countries, and mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/facts.htmNot to mention DDT isn’t even that harmful, and it’s supposed detrimental effects on human health are still very questionable.
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Whoa! This is sad! We are going to start publisizing this stuff. We are some gifted children who want to make a difference! If you have any good ideas please post them here!!!!! Thanks for your help – the IT kids
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