• Submitted by: manso
• International
• 03 / 18 / 2011

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Ghana and Cuba signed a memorandum of understanding to expand a comprehensive malaria-fighting program in the West African nation and its neighbors, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Under the agreement, state company Grupo Empresarial Labiofam will expand a program begun in 2006 around the capital Accra to the entire country, and establish a production facility in the country that will supply Ghana as well as neighboring markets. The Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted Ghana’s Integrated Malaria Vector Control project; Nigeria has used larger quantities of Labiofam-made bio-larvicides.

Neither Cuban nor Ghanian officials said who will fund the project. A similar Cuban plant under construction in Tanzania is partially funded by South Africa.

The vector-fighting anti-malaria program begun around Accra five years ago has reduced the incidence of malaria by nearly two-thirds.

The Cuban campaign in Accra reduced malaria by two-thirds

The MOU was signed in Havana by Ghana’s Minister of Health, Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Cuban health ministry officials, and Labiofam. The agreement includes aerial spraying of the entire country, supply of anti-malaria chemicals, and Cuban technicians.

Labiofam exports Bactivec and GriselESF to a dozen developing countries; the company also set up a joint venture manufacturing facility in Brazil.

Source: /www.cubastandard.com/2011/03/17/labiofam-to-build-larvicide-plant-in-ghana/