Bush Admin Promotes Use Of DDT On Malaria In Africa

The Washington Times reported today that the Bureau for Global Health for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) wants to aggressively use DDT and other insecticides to reduce deaths from malaria in Africa. AAEA has supported the use of DDT and other pesticides to reduce these deaths for years. It is good to know the current administration is stepping up its attack in this area. The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) has already dedicated $1.2 billion to reduce malaria deaths by 50 percent in 15 African countries by 2010. Many of these programs involve indoor spraying. AAEA advocates widespread outdoor spraying to eliminate the malaria carrying mosquito by using DDT just as it was eliminated in the U.S. Then suspend spraying. We are even taking the Bald Eagle off of the Endangered Species List here.

AAEA, like USAID, also supports using a rotational mix of pesticides in addition to DDT because mosquitoes can become resistant. USAID plans to utilize DDT in Mozambique, Ethiopia and Zambia. South Africa has used DDT effectively in the eastern part of the country. The PMI is using pesticides other than DDT in Uganda, Angola and Tanzania. Hopefully Uganda will lift its ban on DDT. Namibia should also utilize the pesticide to eliminate malarial deaths. Mainstream environmental organization place more value on animal life than human lives in Africa regarding malaria and the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants ratified by 122 nations calls for elimination of DDT.