Sleeping safely with mosquito nets

In January 2009, DLH distributed 10,000 mosquito nets in what was at that time our forest concession in Congo-Brazzaville to employees, their families and other people living in the community, so that they could protect themselves and their children against malaria mosquitos.

Mosquito nets are recognised as an effective, simple and cheap way to prevent malaria which claims up to three millions lives worldwide every year. The nets distributed by DLH are long-lasting insecticidal nets called PermaNet®, which are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

10,000 mosquito nets distributed

The 10,000 nets were a direct outcome of a fundraising campaign launched in connection with DLH’s 100th anniversary in 2008. Instead of receiving traditional anniversary gifts such as wine or chocolate, DLH encouraged customers, clients, employees and other partners to give donations to the fundraising for mosquito nets. Every incoming donation was doubled by DLH and 10,000 nets were sent to Congo-Brazzaville.

The nets arrived to Congo-Brazzaville in January 2009. The actual distribution of the nets happened in close cooperation with the Danish producer of Permanet®, Vestergaard Frandsen. A team from Vestergaard Frandsen provided training to a local team in the forest concession– who in turn provided education to all receivers of the nets in the local language Lingala.

The distribution was supported by film broadcasts on the local TV channel with information about why and how to use the nets.

The project aimed also at contributing to Vestergaard Frandsen's research on malaria interventions by providing data on the usage of the nets. In this way, the project not only benefits the receivers of the nets, but also contributes to the global research on malaria prevention and control.

You can read more about Permanet® long-lasting insecticidal nets at Vestergaard Frandsen’s homepage.