1. In April UNICEF brought 2000 LLIN’s into the Caprivi and the International Red Cross is also aiming to bring 10 000 LLIN’s to the flood victims (proforma Mossi Nets as local manufacturer was asked for a quotation).

LLIN’s are now manufactured in Arusha, Tanzania by a private company, in partnership with UNICEF and WHO using Japanese technology. An interesting fact is that a N.Y. based company (Acumen Fund) a so called "Non-profit organization, that invests philantropic resources in innovative social entrepreneurs" is financially involved in this manufacturing plant in Africa! We still remember the undisputed fact that P.S.I. (another "non-profit organization" based in Washington, DC) received N$ 5 000 000 in 1998 from the British Government for Malaria control in Namibia. The 4 following years they brought in bednets from Arusha for about N$ 16/net and sold the same net for N$ 30,00 (no VAT or customs duty paid) "to help the poorest of the poor". It now seems that Africas bed nets market is caught in unfair global strategies. For the localbed nets projects which had the occasional support of UNICEF, WHO and the Red Cross it becomes evident that the future on NEPADs doorsteps does look bleak. From experience we know that our pleas for understanding, transparency and support are mostly ignored.

2. LLIN’s technicalities

In testing the LLIN we found the following:

The net has got about 66 mashes/ sq. inch. The minimum requirement was up to now 156 mashes/ sq. inch. Insects pass through the wide mashes. Mosquitoes are not „knocked down on contact" as the manufacturer states. To our findings a mosquito can land and rest for up to 60 seconds on the net and does not show irritation afterwards. Only if mosquitos are active on the net and try to get in or out the result is irritation after 3 to 5 minutes the mosquitos die.

We tested the impact of the LLIN on crickets which have about 200 times the weight of a mosquito as well. The impact time of the poison was about the same compared to the time with the mosquito.

If we think about the call to use this LLIN‘s especially for babies and small children, we are surprised that no special advice is given on the aspect of skin contact to the LLIN. What tests may have been conducted to ensure the safety of the human user and the chicken which feed on the intoxicated insects?

We hope to get awareness and discussions going on this fairly new development. That is our main objective of our above statements.

Thank you for your attention.

Uwe Rathmann, Grootfontein