Buzz Off Insect Shield to Work With MENTOR in Emergency Malaria-Control Project in Kenya
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2007
Janine Robertson
Contact: Buzz Off Insect Shield PR
Ph: 206 354-9093
[email protected]
SEATTLE, WA - Buzz Off Insect Shield, LLC, has announced a collaboration
with the MENTOR Initiative, an international humanitarian organization
that provides essential disease-control and technical and operational
support for populations in crises. One of MENTOR's current focus areas
is the Busia District in Western Province, Kenya, where the population
has been severely affected by floods. Flooding has caused displacement
of many communities to makeshift camps, while others are cut off and
isolated by floodwaters. In the past year, flooding and emergency living
conditions have doubled the incidence of disease and death from malaria.
Those most affected are young children and pregnant women.
Buzz Off Insect Shield welcomes opportunities to assist agencies and
international relief organizations that work to protect at-risk
populations from insect-borne diseases. The company will work with
MENTOR toward the development of Insect Shield(r)-treated items to
provide innovative tools for protection against malaria.
Richard Allen, director of the MENTOR Initiative said,
"Permethrin-treated textile products have become very important helping
to prevent malaria and other insect-borne diseases and are used widely
in emergency and stable settings alike today. However, development of
new innovative ITMs (insecticide-treated materials) such as treated
sheets are needed, and these could further improve ability to control
malaria and other diseases if they can deliver long-lasting and
effective protection against disease vectors. We are delighted to have
the support of Buzz Off Insect Shield in working towards the development
of these innovative new tools."
Insect Shield products are proven and EPA-registered to repel a variety
of insects-including mosquitoes that can carry malaria, as well as
dengue fever and other devastating diseases. The repellency is odorless,
invisible and effective, and the repellency of Insect Shield(r)
Repellent Apparel lasts through 70 launderings.
Buzz Off Insect Shield Director of Global Health Initiatives Laura
Hendrix has signed on to work with MENTOR's malaria-control project on
site in the Busia District. Hendrix will help promote community
awareness of malaria-prevention and treatment methods. She will also
assist partners on the ground in the development and implementation of a
user-acceptance evaluation of Insect Shield-treated khangas. Khangas are
colorful wraps worn by African women that are also used to carry babies
and as sleeping covers. Because of these specific uses, Buzz Off Insect
Shield is hopeful that treated khangas can be a valuable tool for
protection against mosquitoes that can carry malaria. Insect
Shield-treated khangas will be provided to women throughout the
flood-affected communities, and the user-acceptance study will assess
acceptance and desirability of the khangas, as well as the feasibility
of such a program, through weekly surveys.
About MENTOR
The MENTOR Initiative is a unique international NGO (non-governmental
organization), registered in the UK, that is dedicated to providing
essential disease control and technical and operational support in
emergencies and recovering crises. MENTOR directly assists national and
international humanitarian groups and authorities working in the most
fragile states to improve the way in which they can respond to crises
that befall them. MENTOR has established and delivers large-scale and
effective malaria, and related, disease control directly through to the
affected communities and, where possible, utilizing the existing health
delivery system. For more information visit www.thementorinitiative.org.
About Buzz Off Insect Shield:
In July 2003, Buzz Off Insect Shield, LLC, introduced the first-ever
EPA-registered insect-repellent apparel. Insect Shield(r) Repellent
Apparel provides effective, invisible and odorless protection against
mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges (no-see-ums).
Insect Shield apparel categories include outdoor, golf, hunting,
fishing, and equestrian in partnership with select brands such as
ExOfficio, L.L. Bean, Orvis, Outdoor Research, Tilley Hats, Rocky
Outdoor Gear, Imperial Headwear, Ariat, and Mad Dog Gear from Stearns.
Insect Shield(r) Repellent Gear categories include camping, patio,
beach, pet, and horse products, in partnership with brands such as
Horseware Ireland and Orvis. For more information visit
www.insectshield.com.
November 19, 2007
Janine Robertson
Contact: Buzz Off Insect Shield PR
Ph: 206 354-9093
[email protected]
SEATTLE, WA - Buzz Off Insect Shield, LLC, has announced a collaboration
with the MENTOR Initiative, an international humanitarian organization
that provides essential disease-control and technical and operational
support for populations in crises. One of MENTOR's current focus areas
is the Busia District in Western Province, Kenya, where the population
has been severely affected by floods. Flooding has caused displacement
of many communities to makeshift camps, while others are cut off and
isolated by floodwaters. In the past year, flooding and emergency living
conditions have doubled the incidence of disease and death from malaria.
Those most affected are young children and pregnant women.
Buzz Off Insect Shield welcomes opportunities to assist agencies and
international relief organizations that work to protect at-risk
populations from insect-borne diseases. The company will work with
MENTOR toward the development of Insect Shield(r)-treated items to
provide innovative tools for protection against malaria.
Richard Allen, director of the MENTOR Initiative said,
"Permethrin-treated textile products have become very important helping
to prevent malaria and other insect-borne diseases and are used widely
in emergency and stable settings alike today. However, development of
new innovative ITMs (insecticide-treated materials) such as treated
sheets are needed, and these could further improve ability to control
malaria and other diseases if they can deliver long-lasting and
effective protection against disease vectors. We are delighted to have
the support of Buzz Off Insect Shield in working towards the development
of these innovative new tools."
Insect Shield products are proven and EPA-registered to repel a variety
of insects-including mosquitoes that can carry malaria, as well as
dengue fever and other devastating diseases. The repellency is odorless,
invisible and effective, and the repellency of Insect Shield(r)
Repellent Apparel lasts through 70 launderings.
Buzz Off Insect Shield Director of Global Health Initiatives Laura
Hendrix has signed on to work with MENTOR's malaria-control project on
site in the Busia District. Hendrix will help promote community
awareness of malaria-prevention and treatment methods. She will also
assist partners on the ground in the development and implementation of a
user-acceptance evaluation of Insect Shield-treated khangas. Khangas are
colorful wraps worn by African women that are also used to carry babies
and as sleeping covers. Because of these specific uses, Buzz Off Insect
Shield is hopeful that treated khangas can be a valuable tool for
protection against mosquitoes that can carry malaria. Insect
Shield-treated khangas will be provided to women throughout the
flood-affected communities, and the user-acceptance study will assess
acceptance and desirability of the khangas, as well as the feasibility
of such a program, through weekly surveys.
About MENTOR
The MENTOR Initiative is a unique international NGO (non-governmental
organization), registered in the UK, that is dedicated to providing
essential disease control and technical and operational support in
emergencies and recovering crises. MENTOR directly assists national and
international humanitarian groups and authorities working in the most
fragile states to improve the way in which they can respond to crises
that befall them. MENTOR has established and delivers large-scale and
effective malaria, and related, disease control directly through to the
affected communities and, where possible, utilizing the existing health
delivery system. For more information visit www.thementorinitiative.org.
About Buzz Off Insect Shield:
In July 2003, Buzz Off Insect Shield, LLC, introduced the first-ever
EPA-registered insect-repellent apparel. Insect Shield(r) Repellent
Apparel provides effective, invisible and odorless protection against
mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges (no-see-ums).
Insect Shield apparel categories include outdoor, golf, hunting,
fishing, and equestrian in partnership with select brands such as
ExOfficio, L.L. Bean, Orvis, Outdoor Research, Tilley Hats, Rocky
Outdoor Gear, Imperial Headwear, Ariat, and Mad Dog Gear from Stearns.
Insect Shield(r) Repellent Gear categories include camping, patio,
beach, pet, and horse products, in partnership with brands such as
Horseware Ireland and Orvis. For more information visit
www.insectshield.com.