The quest for equity in malaria control through sustainability and innovation
By Dr. Rose Peter, Commercial Head of Vector Control for Southern and Sub-Sahara Africa.
With the 2024 Vector Control Working Group (VCWG) Annual Meeting, the MIM (Multilateral Initiative on Malaria) 8th Pan-African Malaria Conference and World Malaria Day, the next two weeks are a very important time for vector control, and the perfect time to reflect on the state of the industry. The VCWG is already underway, and there have been incredible, thoughtful conversations about where the vector control community is and what the future can look like.
I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made towards a malaria-free Africa even though we’ve encountered challenges in recent years. To overcome these challenges and continue momentum towards a malaria-free Africa, we’ll need to maintain our indoor residual spray (IRS) programs and use products responsibly to combat insecticide resistance in mosquitoes. Luckily, we have a proven toolbox to aid in our efforts, and there is a new product with a revolutionary technology on the horizon that can help us better fight resistance and continue our progress toward malaria eradication.
Providing sustainable solutions
Actellic® 300CS has been available for over 10 years, and that longevity is a testament to the development that went into it. We’re excited to see these products continue to provide outstanding results well into the future. The success of Actellic 300CS has made it widely accepted for vector control by local communities across Africa.
By providing sustainable solutions alongside Actellic 300CS, including container recycling programs, Syngenta has demonstrated its commitment to the health and well-being of local communities not just through vector control, but also through environmental consciousness.
Fighting resistance through innovation
In September 2023, Syngenta submitted Sovrenta® 15WP insecticide to the World Health Organization Vector Control Product Pre-Qualification program. I’m thrilled about the opportunities it will yield for the vector control community.
Mosquito resistance to insecticides is a challenge that we must constantly be mindful of, as its spread could hamper future vector control success. This is why it’s important that we’re constantly innovating and bringing new products to market. Sovrenta® 15WP , which is powered by PLINAZOLIN® technology is the next generation and next evolution in insecticide innovation.
This makes Sovrenta 15WP an ideal rotation partner for Actellic300CS. The introduction of Sovrenta 15WP will help maintain the viability of important tools like Actellic 300CS while accelerating the vector control progress we’ve seen in recent years. If we do not sustain the interventions we currently have in place, we will not be able to achieve our goal of zero malaria.
Syngenta is committed to ensuring that National Malaria Control Programs have the tools needed to eradicate malaria. This includes our long-term dedication to research and development, the introduction of new products and ongoing education at local and global levels.
Working towards an equitable future
By supporting communities and working toward malaria elimination, we can help ensure the most vulnerable people are also provided an environment free from disease vectors like mosquitoes.
One way this can be achieved is through partnership with the private sector. Syngenta has partnered with many companies and organizations to provide training and ensure IRS is implemented in local communities.
From product developers, to those funding programs and to all the program officers, people have done so much and worked extremely hard to get malaria control where it is today. I’m very pleased we’ve provided the tools to make malaria eradication possible and are continuing to bring groundbreaking solutions to communities around the globe. However, to make zero malaria a reality, we must continue implementing IRS programs and using the whole arsenal of vector control methods. I am encouraged by our ability to overcome challenges and hopeful for the future.
Dr. Rose Peter has over 20 years experience in clinical research, market development and sales in both public health and veterinary fields for large, medium-sized and small companies, specializing in the development of pharmaceuticals, anti-parasiticides and insecticides.
Meet the Syngenta Vector Control Team
