Accra, Ghana// – Vestergaard, a leader in public health solutions and the world’s largest manufacturer of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs), has announced a renewed, strategic partnership with the Accra-based Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) to strengthen the development of innovative vector control tools for the prevention of malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa for a further five years.
Malaria is a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 95% of all malaria cases and deaths occurring in the region. While significant progress has been made in the past two decades, malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many African countries, including Ghana.
To address this challenge, Vestergaard and NMIMR joined forces in 2011 to create the Vestergaard-NMIMR Vector Labs (VNVL).
The partnership has been instrumental in providing evidence-based data on LLINs and vector control solutions in malaria-endemic countries, improving understanding around insecticide resistance intensity in malaria mosquitoes, and supporting emerging research.
Vestergaard is committed to supporting early career opportunities in malaria vector control research. Investments by Vestergaard over the five years will continue to support 16 full-time staff at the lab and two research assistants in the Department of Parasitology.
Additional investment in the value of $25,000 will support the development of a post-doctoral fellowship. VNVL is proud to support women in science and believes a gender-balanced team produces more novel and impactful scientific research.
“We are excited to renew our partnership with NMIMR to further our research and product testing activities, and provide opportunities for early career scientists who will bolster capacity in the region and support much needed innovation,” Melinda Hadi, Director of Market Development & Access, Public Health at Vestergaard said.
Through this public-private partnership, Vestergaard lends extensive expertise in product development, while NMIMR provides knowledge and research expertise in malaria parasitology and vector-borne disease control.
Together, the two organisations will work to advance and elevate vector control science and expand the understanding of LLIN performance and its contribution to malaria prevention.
“We look forward to our continuous drive for excellence in biomedical research, including malaria,” said Professor Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, Director at NMIMR. “NMIMR contributes to the training and capacity development programmes for early career professionals who will carry out cutting edge research in malaria and other issues of public health concern.” VNVL presently offers high insectary capacity and bioassay testing capabilities, product testing and entomology training, and hosts local and international research projects.
It has also reared more than one million mosquitoes annually for product testing. Since 2016, it has helped the Ghanaian National Insecticide Resistance Monitoring Partnership (NIRMOP) in its annual resistance monitoring activities by offering testing materials and the lab as a training venue for field staff. As a science-led public health company,
Vestergaard believes it has a duty of care to ensure the development of high-quality tools to confront the ever-evolving malaria mosquito. Investments in science-led innovation bring insights and knowledge to improve vector control products and malaria control strategies.
“Malaria elimination is complex, and we remain committed to innovative partnerships and the development of effective vector control tools”, said Melinda Hadi. “This partnership combines our strengths and expertise to develop vector control tools and improve knowledge sharing that can make a real difference in the lives of people at risk of malaria.”
