Medicine
DDT Saves Lives
IPN Opinion article
"Recent floods [in Zimbabwe] have brought a new peril: Malarial mosquitoes are breeding out of control in the dissipated floodwaters, spreading this potentially fatal disease to tens of thousands. It is tacitly assumed by the worlds media that malaria was the inevitable result of flooding and that the gallant and under-funded Mozambican government is doing all it can to alleviate the problem. But the truth is that certain officials are blocking the use of the chemical -- the pesticide DDT -- that can best help prevent the spread of this deadly killer disease. They are blocking it for several reasons, but chiefly out of an absurd sense of pride and possibly personal financial gain, which is a shame."
Un-ban DDT
IPN Opinion article
"Bangladesh should at once re-start spraying of households and the environment with DDT to save lives in thousands without paying attention to any international environmentalist's outrage. The people must reject WHO's Global Strategy to provide individual medical treatment that is unrealistic, impossible and unavailable."
Zimbabwe's policies not helping the malaria fight
IPN Opinion article
The fight against malaria needs concerted efforts from governments, the World Health Organisation, research institutes and the private sector. The disease is the biggest killer in Africa and policies are needed that encourage investment in ways of combating it and that create stable and prosperous economies. The Zimbabwean government's policies do far more harm than good and affect those far beyond the country's borders.
Aids has no cure - remember?
IPN Opinion article
"It does seem paradoxical -- nay, tragic -- that the world may end up spending tens of billions of dollars annually to provide painful, only moderately successful treatment to prolong life, while not making millions of people healthy from curable diseases like malaria for only a few billion. In these days of emotional politics, perhaps the rich world will only spend money on diseases with which it has some familiarity..."
Aids has no cure - remember?
IPN Opinion article
It does seem paradoxical -- nay, tragic -- that the world may end up spending tens of billions of dollars annually to provide painful, only moderately successful treatment to prolong life, while not making millions of people healthy from curable diseases like malaria for only a few billion. In these days of emotional politics, perhaps the rich world will only spend money on diseases with which it has some familiarity.
New Study Shows Tragic Consequences of Environmentalists' Campaign to Ban DDT
IPN Opinion article
Press release announcing publication of "Malaria and the DDT Story"
Malaria and the DDT Story
IPN Opinion article
Malaria and the DDT Story provides an insight into the history of DDT's use to control malaria and the politics surrounding its use. Key points are:
Malaria has long plagued mankind, and was only brought under control with the development of medical and chemical technologies in the 20th century.
A worldwide campaign to eradicate malaria with DDT spraying programmes after World War II nearly eliminated the disease in many poor countries.
Environmental fears lead to the banning of DDT in wealthy countries.
Donor agencies and environmental groups from wealthy countries then pressured poor country governments to stop using DDT for malaria control.
When used to control malarial mosquitoes, DDT has no observable effects on human health and its effects on the environment are negligible.
Partly because of restrictions on the use of DDT, malaria rates are now increasing in poor countries.
DDT spraying remains the most cost-effective solution for poor countries to prevent malaria.
Vaccines key to a healthy Africa
IPN Opinion article
"To encourage the development of vaccines and other treatments for HIV, TB and malaria, governments must first signal that they will respect the rights of the patent holders. Second, they should offer tax breaks on investment in research and development. Third, charities and rich governments should offer prizes to the developers of vaccines and new drugs..."
Ending patents not the cure
IPN Opinion article
\"The problem with the ending of patent protection, though, is that in the long term we all lose, especially those in developing countries. And that will be the outcome if the pharmaceutical companies fail in their attempt starting on March 5 in Pretoria High Court to overturn legislation that allows patent-breaking anti-AIDS drugs to be imported from India...\"
