Massive New Public Health Campaign Tackles Malaria in Kinshasa; Speedy Delivery of Bednets to Save Countless Lives in Capitol Region

Contact:
Peter Cleary, Communications Director, Vestergaard Frandsen: pc@permanet.com; Office 212-984-1026, Cell 347-653-5857

For Immediate Release—October 07, 2008

Massive New Public Health Campaign Tackles Malaria in Kinshasa; Speedy Delivery of Bednets to Save Countless Lives in Capitol Region Projet D’urgence de Rehabilitation Urbaine et Sociale (PURUS) Will Provide Two Million Long-Lasting Bednets to Fight Malaria

Kinshasa, DRC—An important public health campaign to reduce the incidence of malaria began today in Kinshasa with the distribution of two million PermaNet® brand of long-lasting, insecticide-treated bednets procured by Population Services International (PSI).

The campaign, called the Projet D’urgence de Rehabilitation Urbaine et Sociale (PURUS), will distribute the bednets to 35 health zones in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The bednets ordered by PSI were swiftly manufactured and shipped to the DRC by Vestergaard Frandsen, allowing the Unité de Coordination des Projets to distribute the nets without delay.

“We are very pleased to partner with PSI on this important campaign that seeks to prevent the transmission of malaria in Kinshasa,” said Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, CEO of Vestergaard Frandsen. “Bednets have been scientifically shown to significantly reduce the transmission of malaria, and are a simple yet effective way to save lives on a massive scale. We would like to thank the Government of the DRC for its investment in this important public health campaign, and our colleagues at PSI who have been so helpful in this campaign.”

Vestergaard Frandsen would like to acknowledge the important contributions of the DRC’s  Ministry of Planning, L’unité de Coordination des Projets, the Ministry of Health, Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme, United Nations Office for Project Services, and the World Bank.

For images of the distribution campaign please contact Peter Cleary at pc@permanet.com