Vestergaard Frandsen believes strongly in humanitarian responsibility. Our commitment to the UN's Millennium Development Goals drives our business objectives and provides the impetus for our continued focus on innovation. We strive towards developing life-saving tools which, when implemented together with other dedicated partners, contribute to realising each of the eight VF and MDGs.

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Infectious diseases like malaria and diarrhoea impose a growth penalty in poor countries by incapacitating the workforce, leading to decreased productivity. PermaNet® long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and LifeStraw® personal and family water purifiers minimise the risk of disease, promoting economic gain by reducing healthcare expenses

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
African children have between 1.6 and 5.4 episodes of malarial fever each year, preventing them from regularly attending school. Sleeping under PermaNet® LLIN every night helps assure that children wake up healthy each morning to continue their education.

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
More than one billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. The need to carry large volumes of water over long distances robs millions of women and girls of their dignity, energy and time. LifeStraw® empowers these women and their families by facilitating access to safe drinking water.

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria, and it is estimated that 5.5 lives could be saved per year for every 1,000 children under five protected by ITNs. Our annual production of 60,000,000 PermaNet® has the potential to save the lives of 330,000 children per year. Prevention of diarrhoeal diseases with LifeStraw® could contribute to the reduction of nearly 2,000,000 child deaths per year.

Goal 5: Improve maternal health
In Africa, up to 200,000 newborn deaths occur each year as a result of malaria in pregnancy. When compared with a control situation in which mosquito nets were not used, insecticidal nets such as PermaNet® reduced the rate of miscarriage/stillbirth by 33%.

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
HIV infection increases the risk of malaria infection as much as four-fold, and increases viral load, contributing to a decreased response to standard anti-malarial treatment. Further, up to 90% of HIV patients are affected by diarrhoea. Mobilizing PermaNet® LLINs and LifeStraw® can have a joint health impact, reducing the risk of both diseases in HIV-infected people.

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Vestergaard Frandsen’s product portfolio includes water filters and long-lasting insecticidal nets, curtains, jar lids, plastic sheeting, tents, wall lining, which are all factory-treated, low-pollution tools that reduce the risk of both human and environmental exposure to dangerous chemicals.

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Fulfilling its commitment to reduce the global burden of disease and achieve sustainable development, Vestergaard Frandsen invests heavily in the research and development of life-saving tools. We work in close partnership with the UN, governments and NGOs to ensure that these tools are appropriate, effective, and reach those who need them most.