Drug makers accused of blocking DDT use
Jul 20, 2008
ALTHOUGH internal residual spraying using DDT reduced malarial infections in northern Uganda, the health minister alleges that malaria drug manufacturers are influencing people to resist the drug that kills mosquitoes
ALTHOUGH internal residual spraying using DDT reduced malarial infections in northern Uganda, the health minister alleges that malaria drug manufacturers are influencing people to resist the drug that kills mosquitoes, Anthony Bugembe reports.
“People have made a lot of money selling malaria drugs. They are behind the move against internal residual spraying because they are beginning to lose their market.
“I was told that some doctors were angry because they no longer have patients to treat. Malaria cases and deaths have dropped by 20% in Apac, and 40% in Oyam, since we sprayed DDT,†said health minister Stephen Mallinga on Thursday.
In an effort to kill mosquitoes, the health ministry launched the spraying of DDT in Apac and Oyam districts in February.
The ministry was planning to roll out the drive to other parts of the country.
The High Court stopped the exercise on May 30 following a petition filed by nine groups of produce farmers, traders and conservationists.
Mallinga noted that the World Health Organisation and the European Union cleared Uganda to use DDT to kill mosquitoes to control malaria.
About 320 people die of malaria everyday in Uganda.
The health minister said the desired level of agricultural productivity can still be achieved even when DDT is used.
He cited South Africa, Ethiopia and Botswana as countries that were using DDT but are success stories in agriculture.
“We would have loved to continue in northern Uganda where there are many malaria cases, but the court stopped us,†added Mallinga.
The head of the malaria control programme, Dr. J.B. Rwakimari, said the ministry was preparing to spray the south western region.
He noted that DDT’s alternative, ICON, was expensive.
“People have made a lot of money selling malaria drugs. They are behind the move against internal residual spraying because they are beginning to lose their market.
“I was told that some doctors were angry because they no longer have patients to treat. Malaria cases and deaths have dropped by 20% in Apac, and 40% in Oyam, since we sprayed DDT,†said health minister Stephen Mallinga on Thursday.
In an effort to kill mosquitoes, the health ministry launched the spraying of DDT in Apac and Oyam districts in February.
The ministry was planning to roll out the drive to other parts of the country.
The High Court stopped the exercise on May 30 following a petition filed by nine groups of produce farmers, traders and conservationists.
Mallinga noted that the World Health Organisation and the European Union cleared Uganda to use DDT to kill mosquitoes to control malaria.
About 320 people die of malaria everyday in Uganda.
The health minister said the desired level of agricultural productivity can still be achieved even when DDT is used.
He cited South Africa, Ethiopia and Botswana as countries that were using DDT but are success stories in agriculture.
“We would have loved to continue in northern Uganda where there are many malaria cases, but the court stopped us,†added Mallinga.
The head of the malaria control programme, Dr. J.B. Rwakimari, said the ministry was preparing to spray the south western region.
He noted that DDT’s alternative, ICON, was expensive.