DDT use discussed at national workshop [Archives:2008/1154/Health]
In cooperation with the World Health Organization, Yemen's Public Health and Population Ministry along with the National Malaria Control Program kicked off events for the National Workshop on DDT Reporting held in Sana'a May 6 and 7.
The workshop's main objective was to raise awareness among all concerned government health and agricultural sectors as well as other development fields in charge of importing, storing and using pesticides in Yemen.
The 30 participants representing various governmental sectors reviewed several topics, including a regional overview of vector-borne diseases and judicious use of insecticides. They also discussed reports on pesticide management and regulations, as well as using DDT alternatives.
The workshop came out with a number of recommendations, summarized as follows:
– setting up a special high committee concerned with pesticides
– focusing on the role of media in increasing public awareness about the hazards of using pesticides in agriculture or any other fields
– asserting the effective role that coast guards should play in inspecting and detecting the smuggling of such chemicals
– enhancing inspection campaigns in the markets in search of banned pesticides
– establishing all cautionary measures in this regard and advising the public about the probable dangers in using pesticides in general
Dr. Adel Al-Jasari, director of Yemen's National Malaria Control Program, notes that DDT currently isn't available in Yemen and hasn't been on the Yemeni market since its importation was banned in 1990.
Before that time, he explained that DDT was used between 1981 and 1990 to fight anopheles mosquitoes, the main cause of malaria. However, since then, he says Yemen has remained completely DDT-free for the past 18 years.
The Yemeni government prohibited importing the pesticide in compliance with the Stockholm Convention to control DDT use in the world.
Al-Jasari highlighted that this workshop sought to stir up the joint work of concerned ministries and other sectors involved in this issue in order to develop a mechanism for proper and more organized use of pesticides in Yemen in general.
The director further asserted that Yemen no longer will need to use DDT in the future, despite the fact that the Stockholm Convention permits its restricted use in only one instance – to fight malaria – and must implement precautionary procedures, including a mechanism to detect and report any other use of DDT. Yemen has begun utilizing DDT alternatives, which have proven to have no risk to human health.
Al-Jasari points out that Yemen's success in controlling and managing pesticide use is attributed to its ongoing cooperation with WHO, further noting that Yemen is receiving necessary support and assistance from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Additionally, Yemen has an effective cooperation scheme with neighboring Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in terms of mechanisms to combat malaria.
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