WHO supports GAIL to promote anti-malarial insecticide net

EHM News Bureau - Mumbai

The recent move by the Government of India to launch the “Anti malaria month campaign” has energised GAIL to expedite its pilot project to promote a special mosquito net made from one of its flagship product called G-Lex.

The bed net is made from High density polythethylene (HDPE) impregnated with a potent anti-malarial insecticide. The new technology has been developed by M/s Sumitomo Chemicals of Japan and these nets are called Long Lasting insecticidal nets. The insecticide released at a controlled rate, proves fatal for the mosquitoes as the net remains effective for at least five years. GAIL has already identified two local manufacturers, who will be making the honey comb designed bed net from this special resin. GAIL, a natural gas major, is focused on all aspects of the gas value chain including exploration and production, gas marketing and transmission, gas processing, LPG production, petrochemicals and telecom.

GAIL will distribute these bed nets in selected malaria prone areas. There are a number of states in India which have been identified as malaria-prone. These bed nets will be distributed in select villages with the help of state governments, health departments and monitored for qualitative acceptance and evaluation.

Sumitomo has got these products recently registered from the regulatory authority. GAIL has got principal approval from the WHO to monitor the effectiveness of such nets and for technical support once GAIL distributes the nets.
These bed nets are priced at Rs 450-500 per piece internationally but in India, the price mark will be Rs 200 to Rs 250. The net will remain effective for five years, making it a very economical option as compared to the cost incurred on other mosquito repellants.