Background
DDT is one of the Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) pesticides regulated by the Stockholm Convention. The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention allows the use of DDT for public health interventions for disease vector control as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
At its fourth meeting, the COP endorsed the establishment of the Global Alliance for the development and deployment of products, methods and strategies as alternatives to DDT for disease vector control and requested the Secretariat to lead its implementation.
The need to develop and deploy alternatives to DDT is not only driven by the demand to reduce reliance on DDT in the context of the Stockholm Convention but should also be considered in the context of a sustainable approach to effective malaria vector control. Therefore, it is necessary to:
- Bring together key organizations and stakeholders to enhance their collaboration and effectiveness for achieving agreed goals;
- Facilitate the identification of gaps in existing programmes and catalyze complementary action;
- Raise awareness of all stakeholders involved in disease vector control;
- Monitor and share the progress towards the development and deployment of alternatives to DDT.
Meeting highlights
The committee identified the activities for medium term plans for the five Thematic Groups and the strategies to implement these activities.
The committee reviewed the progress of implementation of the Global Alliance since the first meeting of the Interim Steering Committee. It took note of the launch of the Global Alliance at the extraordinary Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conversions in February 2010. It also took note of the training exercise on IVM for selected Anglophone African countries and the project proposal for work-sharing and capacity building for registration of alternative chemicals to DDT in disease endemic countries.
The committee also considered a proposal for the website of the Global Alliance and recommended a way forward.
The core members of all five Thematic Groups will have follow-up meeting to undertake the tasks associated with the activities agreed during the second meeting.