2011 Conference  //  Context

Home » 2011 Conference » Context

After the first Bujumbura Conference held on October 15th and 16th of 2010, during which the project « To produce mosquito repellents from the catmint plant to fight malaria in a sustainable development perspective »  was launched,  many concrete actions were taken :

• Testing of the agricultural conditions to grow the catmint plant in Burundi as « pilot country » of the project ;
• Verifying the acceptability of the repellent by the targeted populations ( families, children, pregnant women ) ;
• Demonstrating the oil extraction process from the plants and organizing training sessions for the partners ;
• An awareness campaign on the use of repellents to protect against moquito bites ;
• Feasibility studies of the project.

Malaria is the first cause of death of children and mothers in Africa. Today in Burundi as well as throughout Africa in general,  the populations know that they can protect themselves from mosquito bites by using repellent products that they themselves will produce instead of waiting for these products to arrive from the North. They know that this project will create employment and help in the economic development of rural areas.

The 2nd Conference to be held on October 17th and 18th, during the month dedicated to the catmint plant in Burundi, will play host to national, african and international protagonists involved in this fight against malaria.

To produce mosquito repellents from plants in Africa, by the people, with the people and for the people, means :

• Investing in local populations by satisfying basic needs ;
• Promoting integrated development through agriculture ;
• Fighting poverty by creating jobs and income ;
• Promoting technoligical tranfers ;
• Encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit ;
• Stimulating economic growth.

• Make the young people aware of the role they can play in this sustainable development related project that will create benefits for this and future generations ;
• Develop a plea for the adoption of mosquito repellents as a strategy to fight malaria in Africa ;
• Create a concensus between african and international partners about the production of these repellents by the local african communities ;
• Create an interest for private, governmental and international sponsors.