BANGKOK – The World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES) has added Tana Netting’s DawaPlus® 2.0 long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LN) to its list of interim recommended products.  The move brings the international public health community a step closer to meeting its goal of delivering effective and affordable protection and treatment to all people at risk of malaria within 2010.

DawaPlus® 2.0 repels, knocks down and kills mosquitoes, offering a good night’s sleep, free from malaria, especially to vulnerable populations, such as young children, pregnant women and the elderly.  DawaPlus® 2.0 LNs are coated with deltamethrin insecticide, one of the world’s safest and most widely-used vector control products, in a special treatment process that ensures the nets retain their effectiveness even after they have been washed 20 or more times.  

“We are pleased that the WHO has added DawaPlus® 2.0 LN to its list of recommended products and look forward to serving the needs of our partners and clients in the international community,” said Jurgen Swinckels, Tana Netting’s Managing Director. “One of the most critical road blocks to achieving the malaria community’s 2010 targets has been a lack of manufacturing capacity for long-lasting nets, and we are excited to do our part to break down this barrier.”

Tana Netting’s unique end-of-the-line treatment method represents the most socially responsible production process in the industry.  Unlike other products, DawaPlus® 2.0 LNs are treated only after they have been sewn, minimizing worker exposure to chemically-treated textiles. Further, the closed system ensures that no chemicals are released into the environment.

“Our exclusive production process sets Tana Netting apart from our competitors,” continued Mr. Swinckels.  “We take a holistic view of development that includes the end users of our products as well as our employees and the environment.  From the beginning, DawaPlus® 2.0 was designed to offer high quality protection to consumers while safeguarding the health and well-being of our workers and our responsibility towards the environment.”

DawaPlus® has been under development since 2005 as part of a public-private partnership with NetMark Africa (a project of USAID) and Bayer Environmental Science.  The nets will be manufactured at Tana Netting’s state-of-the-art production facility in Thailand and are distributed by the company’s network of business partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America.