Four countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have successfully demonstrated viable, sustainable and cost effective alternatives to DDT use.

Sudan

Sudan has investigated the impact of insecticide resistance on the effectiveness of malaria vector control, the burden of malaria, and determined the effects of different insecticide-based vector control intervention strategies, such as indoor residual spraying (IRS) and combined IRS and long-lasting insecticide-treated bednets (LLINs) on the development and management of insecticide resistance. 

Four study sites - El-Hoosh, Hag Abdullah, Galabat and New Halfain - were chosen across the three states of Kassala, Sennar and Al Qadarif.

Morocco

Morocco explored the feasibility and effectiveness of alternative vector control methods as a part of the integrated vector management (IVM) approach to reduce transmission of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The effectiveness of IRS combined (disease incidence and sandfly density) with environmental management was compared  to environmental management alone.

The effectiveness of LLINs (disease incidence and sandfly density) combined with environmental management was compared  to environmental management alone.

Islamic Republic of Iran

The project in Iran aims to investigate the efficacy of covering breeding places with natural materials (mat made of leaves), compared to synthetic materials (man-made materials, tile). The results will be compared to regular larviciding activities by Bacillus thuringiensi. The cost-effective analysis, sustainability of interventions community acceptance and participation will be assessed.

Yemen

Yemen will compare the efficacy of LLINs alone and the combination of LLINs and IRS on the malaria burden measured by malaria prevalence and passive case detection at health facilities. The project also assesses the impact (insecticide resistance) of the two study arms on the malaria vectors and monitors the malaria vector behaviour between the two interventions.

Egypt

Egypt, Jordan and Djibouti strengthened their national capacity on IVM by re-establishing a statutory IVM steering committee, conducted comprehensive vector surveillance/mapping activities and monitored insecticide resistance.

Vector surveillance and insecticide resistance monitoring was conducted in sentinel sites in Qena, Sharqiya, Kafr El Sheikh, North Sinai, Suez, El Fayoum, Alexandria and Damietta.