A JAPAN-BASED firm has developed a mosquito repellent paint most suitable for northern Namibia, which is prone to malaria outbreaks, and has found its way into the Namibian market.
The first consignment of the paint is expected to arrive in the country today.
In an interview on Monday, Japanese doctor Osamu Imamura, who lectures at the University of Namibia’s School of Medicine, told that he had approached the water-based interior paintmaker Kansai Paint to donate the paints to the health ministry following the outbreak of malaria in the north this year.
The company uses synthetic pyrethroid insecticides to repel mosquitoes and other insects, such as spiders and ants, he explained.
The odourless paint works by disrupting the nervous systems of mosquitoes and disabling their bites when they land on painted cool walls, which are preferred resting places for mosquitoes during the day.
“I called the world-famous Japanese company Kansai Paint Co, Ltd in Osaka, and their chief executive officer, Yu Akaki, decided to donate anti-mosquito paint for malaria-prone areas. Because I am a member of the Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine, the company decided to accept my proposal for the donation,” he noted.
Imamura added that after the donation, which he said will be handed over to the health ministry this week, the paint aimed at fighting malaria will be produced locally as from today by Plascon Namibia.
“Namibian Kansai Plascon Ltd. and Namibian Calluna Investment CC will be producing this anti-mosquito paint to fight malaria,” he said.
Kansai’s Namibian Plascon branch has the factory to produce the anti-mosquito paint, while Calluna Investment CC will carry out research and provide more information on this product to take it all over southern Africa.
He highlighted that this product will be ready for procurement and sales in the country as soon as the donation is done.
In an email response to The Namibian, Akaki said Namibia has a big fight against malaria, but the country “has only a small budget for malaria. That is why Kansai Paint decided to donate this mosquito-repellant paint for the interest of Namibia.”
According to information on the company’s website, this product is a premium grade emulsion with mosquito-repellent properties, “yet gives a brilliant, smooth and luxurious sheen finish for interior use”.
Formulated with special emulsions, it can withstand moderate washing, which makes it ideal for surfaces where regular cleaning is required, the website showed.
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