Mosquito Control is not just a social responsibility but a crucial HSE issue!

Malaria is endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, to mention but a few in Africa. In these malarial countries bringing this threat under control is not just a social responsibility but a crucial Health, Safety, and Environmental issue.

Efforts by mines to reduce the impact of malaria by saving lives and facilitating economic development is an unavoidable investment in these areas.

Regent Laboratory teams help companies identify critical requirements for managing an integrated malaria control programme, based on analysis of current best practices and lessons learned by leading successful malaria control programmes assessed to World Health Organisation’s standards.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria have a huge impact on productivity, with employees having to take time off due to illness and some employees losing their lives to malaria. It is estimated that time lost to productive working could be over 30%.

By implementing effective mosquito vector control programmes, companies can protect their workers from these potentially deadly illnesses while also ensuring that they remain productive and efficient. Not only does this help prevent costly downtime due to absenteeism, but it also helps foster better relationships between employers and mineworkers and their families, by showing that the company cares about its people's well-being. In short, investing in proper mosquito vector control programmes is beneficial for all parties involved.

It is therefore quite disturbing that the number of days lost to malaria at mines is increasing because of the severe weather changes due to climate change, and a lapse in spending on vector control as monies were diverted to handling Covid-19.

Last season it was widely reported that many mines received their malaria control products, way after the rains commenced. Inadequate procurement policies, and a lack of good mosquito control project management, rendered much of the money spent on schemes wasted.

It is so important that supplies of larvicides, Indoor Residual Insecticides and bed nets are distributed prior to the rains starting. It is vitally important the IRS teams are trained and ready to spray the indoor walls before it gets too humid and renders the spraying less effective.

At Regent Laboratories we have ensured that we have stock of all the necessary products you need for a malaria control programme and, if you place your orders now we can ensure that they reach your mine in time for staff to be trained and before the rains commence.

We can also help your team put together an effective mosquito control programme, provide training for the spray teams, survey the area and map the locations to be treated, determine the education literature and posters needed, and ensure that the whole process is documented and added to your HSE Policies so that they can be audited properly. This assurance process will ensure money is not wasted on ineffective programmes with the outcome being a huge reduction in the cases of malaria and consequently attainment of higher productivity rates.

We establish proper monitoring and reporting processes, some of which make for useful content for your annual reports to investors, but more importantly, the data can be shared with the local public health authorities and other interested parties who use the information to help in the fight against malaria.

Act now to ensure that your workers and their families are properly protected!

If you want more information, please visit our website www.regentlaboratories.com and use our WhatsApp link, or call us directly on +27 11 452-3246 or +44 7799544973 email: ashley@regentlaboratories.com