Short communication
Let Us Do It American Style
Mister Seun Ayoade*
Alumnus, College of Medicine University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Mister Seun Ayoade, Alumnus, College of Medicine University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Received Date: January 02, 2023; Published Date: January 17, 2023
Introduction
The program commenced operations on July 1, 1947. It consisted primarily of DDT application to the interior surfaces of rural homes or entire premises in counties where malaria was reported to have been prevalent in recent years [1]. Centre for Disease Control.
Why are only three countries on the planet earth producing
DDT today? The World Health Organization has called for malaria
to be eradicated worldwide using DDT but hardly any large-scale
progress is being made, especially in sub–Saharan Africa [2]. Why?
Why was DDT banned in the first place? In the middle part of the last
century Europe and America eradicated malaria from their domains
by spraying this insecticide. Shortly after kicking malaria out of its
shores the United States banned the production of DDT. Why? The
official theory is that DDT was causing cancer and reducing the
viability of some bird species. Pish tosh! I believe the reason why
DDT was banned was to prevent the newly emerging countries of
Africa from acquiring DDT and wiping out malaria in Africa. That
seems to me to be the reason. And they have succeeded. Since DDT
was banned millions of sub-Saharan Africans have died of malaria.
The good Book says, “the love of money is the root of all evil”.
How true! Imagine if malaria had been eradicated in sub–Saharan
Africa shortly after it had been done in Europe and America. All
the millions of dollars being made by the pharmaceutical industry
from selling anti malarias and prophylactics would not have been
generated. The mosquito net and mosquito coil makers would be
out of business. All the foundations, research organizations and
NGOs “fighting” malaria and working on the will of the wisp malaria
vaccine would not exist. Anybody serious about ending malaria
today knows what to do. Spray DDT. Or millions will continue to
die. The fate of sub-Saharan Africa, malaria wise depends on DDT.
• Whether as the chemical itself [dichloro-diphenyltrichloroethane]
or as the acronyms viz.
• DARE DO THIS [DDT] that is use the spray and millions
will live or
• DON’T DO THIS [DDT] that is, don’t spray and millions will
continue to die.
• What is good for the goose is good for the gander. There is
no need to reinvent the wheel. Let us kick malaria out of Africa
American Style. DDT is the solution!
Acknowledgment
None.
Conflict of Interest
No conflict of interest.
References
- Elimination of Malaria in the United States (1947-1951).
- Christiane Rehwagen (2006) WHO recommends DDT to control malaria. BMJ, 333(7569): 622.