Insecticide-treated
mosquito nets, or ITNs, are one of the most effective methods for the
prevention of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa where over 2 million people
die every year as a result of the disease, the majority of its victims
being pregnant women and children under five years of age. ITNs have
been shown to decrease severe malaria by 45%, reduce premature births
by 42% and cut all-cause child mortality by 17%-63%. For every 1000
ITNs distributed, 5.5 children's lives are saved.
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Among the most at-risk populations, the World Health Organization estimates an annual need for over 32,000,000 ITNs. The cost and logistical challenge of delivering these life-saving products across a continent on a sustainable basis is simply beyond the means of governments, NGOs, international organizations and donors alone.
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Since its launch in 1999 NetMark has worked closely with the commercial sector to identify and overcome the barriers to the creation of commercially viable markets for ITNs in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. By creating commercial markets for high quality and affordable ITNs to serve those who are able to pay and prefer the convenience and choice of the marketplace, NetMark and its partners are helping the public sector to focus its limited resources on those most at risk, who cannot afford to pay, and who need free nets. An expanded market also increases the options for, and the efficiency of, subsidy mechanisms.
Click here for more on NetMark's approach
RBM
Strategic Framework on Scaling Up ITN Programmes in Africa
(pdf, 128 KB)
Handbook
of Practical Quality Testing Methods for the Mosquito Net Manufacturer
(Word, 680KB)
