The New Nets Project, an initiative funded by Unitaid and the Global Fund and led by the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC), piloted the use of dual-insecticide in malaria-endemic countries between 2019 and 2022 to address the growing threat of insecticide resistance.

Anopheles mosquitoes are increasingly resistant to the pyrethroid insecticides used on standard insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). This may reduce the nets’ ability to protect people from malaria, so we must continue to develop and test new tools.

The BASF Interceptor® G2 ITNs are coated with chlorfenapyr, a new generation pyrrole insecticide, in combination with the standard pyrethroid insecticide. DCT’s Royal Guard® net incorporates a combination of pyriproxyfen and pyrethroid into the yarn of the net. Both ITNs are more effective against mosquitoes with pyrethroid resistance than standard nets are.

Between 2019 and 2022, the New Nets Project supported the deployment of 38.4 million nets across sub-Saharan Africa. In parallel, the Global Fund and PMI supported the deployment of millions of additional nets under an internal initiative (NTI). As a result, a total of 56 million mosquito nets were introduced in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

Two clinical trials and five pilot studies, delivered through the New Nets Project as well as through partner funding, found the new ITNs to improve malaria control by approximately 20-50% in countries reporting insecticide resistance in sub-Saharan Africa, compared to standard nets.

The epidemiological evidence built throughout the project led the World Health Organization (WHO) to publish new recommendations supporting the use of pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets instead of pyrethroid-only nets in countries facing pyrethroid resistance. WHO also issued a conditional recommendation for the deployment of pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen nets instead of pyrethroid-only nets to prevent malaria in adults and children in areas with pyrethroid resistance.

Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid, said: “The New Nets Project has made a massive contribution to malaria control efforts, helping to accelerate introduction of next-generation bed nets – a critically important tool for reducing malaria cases and deaths. The success of this project was not guaranteed from the outset, but our collective efforts to tackle multiple access barriers simultaneously helped ensure that new nets could reach communities as quickly as possible. These partnerships will serve us well as we continue to seek out promising innovations to address challenges in the fight against malaria.”  

The additional cost per case of malaria averted using the Interceptor® G2 nets compared to a standard net ranged from $0.66–$3.56*. The reduction in malaria cases and deaths from using the Interceptor® G2 nets, compared to a standard net, equated to a potential US$28.9 million in financial savings to health systems.

As the number of dual active ingredient ITNs being used increases year on year, the subsequent financial savings to the health system will also increase, underlining the long-term financial and public health benefits of this additional investment.

In addition, the operational pilots also produced a set of guidelines for how to effectively incorporate these new nets into multi-product campaigns and continuous distribution.

Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said: “We are delighted to see that the dual active ingredient insecticide-treated nets have demonstrated exceptional impact against malaria. The success of the New Nets Project is proof that, by fostering collaboration across global health partners, harnessing innovation, and using market-shaping approaches, we can fight insecticide resistance, make our interventions highly cost-effective and accelerate progress against malaria. Together
with our partners, we will continue to invest in the insecticide-treated net innovation pipeline to avert more cases, save more lives, and get back on track towards the global malaria goals.”

Catalytic market-shaping work under the New Nets Project increased supply and demand of dual active ingredient nets, ensuring equitable and affordable access to novel vector control products for country level control programs and vulnerable populations.

UK-based social finance company MedAccess and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported access to Interceptor® G2 nets in 20+ countries by providing a volume guarantee that enabled BASF to reduce the price procurers pay for the nets.
This, combined with continued efforts by partners to scale the introduction of all dual active ingredient nets as they receive WHO prequalification, will help to ensure sustainability beyond the completion of the project.

David McGuire, Director Access and Market Shaping at IVCC, said: “The catalytic market-shaping work under the New Nets Project to increase supply and demand for dual-insecticide nets laid the foundation for ensuring equitable and affordable access to these novel vector control products. The NNP has demonstrated, along with the NgenIRS project, the importance and potential impact of market interventions to ensure that the most vulnerable have access to the best vector control. Similar approaches will be critical for novel products emerging from IVCC’s development pipeline.”

The evidence built through the New Nets Project for the use of the dual active ingredient ITNs is testament to the importance of product-development and catalytic market-shaping interventions to deliver and scale up high-impact, cost-effective prevention tools that meet the needs of malaria-endemic countries.

Dr. Michael Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, said: “The findings of the New Nets Project demonstrate the value of investments into state-of-the-art tools in the fight against malaria. We always say that there is no silver bullet to eliminating malaria and we cannot rely on single interventions, but rather invest in a suite of tools, which when combined, will have the biggest impact on defeating this disease. The dual-insecticide nets are a shining example of one of these tools and the results, coupled with the savings for health systems, make the case for their continued rollout globally.”

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has donated disease detection equipment to Nigeria.

Dr Jide Idris, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, received the Equipment on behalf of the Federal Government on Friday in Abuja.

The laboratory supplies, which include biosafety cabinets, sample collection materials, and other essential laboratory commodities, are expected to increase the country’s outbreak response capacity.

Dr. Farah Husain, Programme Director of the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Global Health Protection, said the donation was part of efforts to assist Nigeria in dealing with disease outbreaks.

She stated that the equipment will help Nigeria’s labs maintain their high quality and output.

She also assured Nigeria of her country’s commitment to assisting in the development of response capacity to protect citizens from disease outbreaks.

She stated, “The United States is committed to working hand-in-hand with Nigeria to build response capacity and protect the health of our people,” adding, “Today, we gather to celebrate a concrete example of the strong partnership between the United States and Nigeria.”

“The United States government, through the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, is pleased to donate equipment and supplies to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to support emergency response laboratory activities.

Nigeria is currently dealing with several ongoing disease outbreaks, including Lassa fever, diphtheria, and meningitis.

“Laboratory scientists play an important role in quickly detecting and verifying cases, which is critical for an effective outbreak response.

“The increased volume of laboratory work caused by these concurrent outbreaks necessitates an urgent need for additional resources.

“With laboratories at the heart of our collaborative work, we can quickly and effectively prevent and respond to outbreaks.”

She revealed that health workers were not left out, as there was personal protective equipment for laboratory workers’ safety, stating: “We have also included large amounts of personal protective equipment to safeguard the health and safety of laboratory workers. “Whether in subnational labs, health facilities, or the communities they serve, this donation will directly help save lives,” said the CDC Programme Director.

In his remarks, the NCDC chief assured the US government that the equipment would be used prudently.

Idris stated that the gesture would improve the country’s disease detection and capabilities.

While praising the importance of collaboration with the US government, Idris emphasised that no government can fund the healthcare system because it is prohibitively expensive.

He explained that: “No government can fund the health system, so we need this type of collaboration from various partners.

“The goal is to reduce the incidence.

“What we are most concerned about here is health security. This is critical because a nation’s mandate to its people is to ensure that the people’s health is sacrosanct in terms of preventing them from contracting any disease, and if that progression, activity is insufficient, to ensure that you properly detect and respond to whatever disease has occurred.

“As previously stated, the government funds the sector, but the funding may not be adequate at this time. That is why the healthcare system is so costly. No government can fund it alone. That is why various partners must collaborate in this manner.

“More importantly, in terms of global health security, one of the major focuses is collaboration, and partnerships, both internationally, nationally, and sub-nationally, because everyone is coming in with different expertise, and we may not have all of the expertise we need, but with this kind of collaboration, productivity can be increased.

“The goal is to meet our objective of reducing disease incidents.  And where you can not stop it, we respond appropriately so that we can reduce the impact of any disease, which is the goal here.

“So, collaboration, and partnerships are critical components of health security..”

The United States Centres for Disease Control has donated disease detection equipment to Nigeria.

The Equioments were received on behalf of the Federal Government on Friday in Abuja by Dr. Jide Idris, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The laboratory supplies are expected to improve the country’s outbreak response capacity and include biosafety cabinets, sample collection materials, and other essential laboratory commodities.

Dr. Farah Husain, Programme Director of the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Global Health Protection, stated that the donation was part of efforts to assist Nigeria in dealing with disease outbreaks.

She stated that the equipment will help to maintain the quality and high outputs of Nigeria’s laboratories.

She also assured Nigeria that her country is committed to assisting in the development of response capacity to protect people from disease outbreaks.

She stated, “The United States is committed to working hand in hand with Nigeria to build response capacity and protect the health of our peoples,” adding, “Today, we gather to celebrate a concrete example of the strong partnership between the United States and Nigeria.”

“The U.S. Government, via the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is proud to donate equipment and supplies to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention to support emergency response laboratory activities.

“Nigeria is currently facing several ongoing disease outbreaks, including Lassa fever, diphtheria, and meningitis.

“Laboratory scientists play a vital role in quickly detecting and confirming cases, which is crucial for an an effective outbreak response.

” The increased volume of laboratory work created by these simultaneous outbreaks creates a pressing need for additional resources.

“Together, with laboratories as the cornerstone of our collaborative work, we can quickly and effectively prevent and respond to outbreaks.”

She revealed that health workers were not excluded because there was personal protective equipment for laboratory workers’ safety, stating that: “We have also included large amounts of personal protective equipment to safeguard the health and safety of laboratory workers. Whether in the subnational labs, health facilities, or the communities they serve, this donation will directly help save lives,” CDC Programme Director said.

In his remarks, NCDC boss assured the US government that the equioments will be judiciously put to use.

Idris noted that the gesture is going to boost the country’s disease detection and capability ability.

While hailing the importance of the collaboration with the US government, Idris stressed that no government can fund health system because it is very expensive.

He explained that: “No government can fund health system and that’s where we require this kind of collaboration from different partners.

“The idea and the goal is to reduce the incidence

“What concerns us mostly here is health security. This is key because a nation’s mandate to the people is to ensure that the health of the people is sacrosanct in terms of preventing the people from catching any disease, and if so, where that progression, activity is not adequate, but ensure that you properly detect whatever disease that is occurred and at the same time respond to it.

“Like we said, the government is funding the sector, but the funding may not necessarily be adequate now. That is why the health system is very expensive. No government can fund it on its own. That is why it requires this kind of collaboration from different partners.

“More importantly, in terms of global health security, one of the major focus is collaboration, partnerships both internationally, nationally and sub-nationally because everybody is coming in with different expertise and we will not necessarily have all the expertise we need but with this kind of collaboration in boosting productivity.

“The goal is to achieve our objective to reduce incidents of disease. And where you cannot stop that we respond adequately so that we can bring down the effect of any disease that is the essence here.

“So collaboration. Partnerships are critical components of health security..”