Global Health Efforts
Every year, millions of people around the world are affected by insect-borne diseases. The impact of these preventable
diseases on families, communities and the economies of developing countries is tremendous. Insect Shield technology has the potential to be an important tool in the battle against insect-borne diseases and improve the health of people worldwide. Our technology can be used for apparel and many other items that people use daily to aid in protection against insects.
Contact us for more information about:
- Insect Shield uniform programs for relief and health workers
- Insect Shield kangas, blankets and covers
Insect Shield welcomes opportunities to assist agencies and international relief organizations that work to protect at-risk populations from insect-borne diseases.
MENTOR Initiative
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.
Insect Shield Support Role: Support for The MENTOR Initiative project in Western Province Kenya. Insect Shield's Director of Global Health Initiatives signed on to work on-site with MENTOR's malaria-control project in the Busia District of Kenya, where flooding had caused displacement of many communities in the area to make-shift camps. Many other communities were cut off and isolated by floodwaters resulting in high rates of disease and death. Our focus was promoting community awareness of malaria-prevention and treatment methods in the flood-affected population. In addition, Insect Shield treated khangas (colorful wraps that women wear, use to carry babies, or as sleeping covers) were provided to the vulnerable women throughout the flood affected communities. The treated khangas are used for protection against mosquitoes that can carry malaria.
Zambia National Malarial Indicator Survey
Zambia Ministry of Health/National Malaria Control Centre/Roll Back Malaria PartnersThe Zambia Ministry of Health, through the National Malaria Control Centre together with support from the Central Statistics Office and several Roll Back Malaria partners, is planning a national household survey to help evaluate the progress in scaling up malaria control interventions nationwide.
Insect Shield Support Role: The survey team was outfitted in Insect Shield Repellent Apparel to help protect them while conducting efforts in the field.
World Concern
An international relief organization of more than 15,000 individuals and families actively working to make a difference, World Concern was founded in 1955. Today, it serves more than 4 million poor and oppressed people each year. The primary goal is to strengthen families and help people become self-reliant by creating opportunities for a better life through food security, primary health care, literacy training and income generation. For more information about World Concern, call 800-755-5022 or visit www.worldconcern.org.
Insect Shield Support Role: Our company has joined efforts with manufacturers, fabric mills, and brand partners to help create a Global Uniform Program. This initiative outfits World Concern staff across the globe with Insect Shield-treated uniforms to protect them as they carry out their relief efforts in areas where insect-borne disease is prevalent.
Medical Teams International
Each year, Medical Teams International sends nearly 200 teams of volunteer medical professionals to provide disaster relief and surgeries, as well as general medical and dental care for impoverished people worldwide. By working with local partners, they aim to transform communities and improve the health of millions of people in need. To learn more, visit http://www.medicalteamsinternational.org/.
Insect Shield Support Role: The entire Medical Teams International staff is outfitted in Insect Shield Repellent Apparel provided by brand partner ExOfficio.
Africa University
Africa University is partnering with Insect Shield to blanket the continent with specialized blankets that ward off disease-carrying mosquitoes and pests. The Africa University board of directors, during its March 24-28 meeting, applauded the university's collaboration with the United Converting Co. LLC of Silver Spring, Md., to distribute Insect Shield blankets to regions of Africa in the fight against malaria and other insect-borne illnesses.
Cacique Isaias Rodriguez Memorial Anti Malaria Project
The objective of the project is to reduce the rate of malaria infection amongst the indigenous people, Ye’kuana and Sanema, who are the exclusive residents of the upper section of the Ventuari River – the Alto Ventuari – in Amazonas State, Venezuela.
Malaria is wide spread and on the rise throughout the Amazon basin. The disease sickens tens of thousands and kills thousands of people each year in Venezuela. The region of Venezuela with the highest incidence of the disease per thousand people is Amazonas State, home to a mostly indigenous population.
Insect Shield Support Role: Insect Shield has donated the treatment of a supply of bed nets that will be distributed as part of a pilot project. Insect Shield-treated bed nets will help interrupt the Malaria cycle in two respects: 1) night time protection of healthy people from infected mosquitoes, and 2) prevention of uninfected mosquitoes becoming carriers by biting infected people.
Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
Insect Shield and brand partner ExOfficio joined forces to ship a large quantity of Insect Shield Repellent Apparel to help those in need in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Insect Shield products were sent to two specialty outdoor retailer locations that set up distribution hubs for donations from outdoor industry manufacturers and suppliers. serving as a clearing house for donations to both victims and relief workers. The Backpacker, located in Baton Rouge, LA, and Buffalo Peak Outfitters, located in Jackson, MS, distributed Insect Shield repellent apparel to both victims in need and relief workers helping in the area.
Habitat for Humanity International
A nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, Habitat for Humanity International seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, affordable shelter.For more information, visit http://www.habitat.org/.
Insect Shield Support Role: A Seattle-based team of Habitat for Humanity International volunteers was outfitted with Insect Shield repellent apparel for bug protection while they conducted relief work in a Katrina-impacted Mississippi region.
Full Belly Project
A non-profit organization, Full Belly Project devised a peanut sheller that can be built from locally obtained materials to save many hours of painstaking labor. The sheller allows operators in developing countries to easily make highly nutritious peanut butter, which can also be sold to supplement income. The peanut shells can also be used as an alternative fuel source. To learn more, go to http://www.fullbellyproject.org/.
Insect Shield Support Role: A team of 16 students were outfitted with Insect Shield hats and clothing to help protect them from insects during their Full Belly Project relief efforts in Uganda.
Hole in the Wall Camps
Hole in the Wall Camps is the world's largest family of camps for children with serious illnesses and life-threatening conditions. Children with cancer, sickle-cell anemia, HIV/AIDS and many other medical conditions come to these camps to experience the simple joys of outdoor activities, without compromising any of their medical needs. For more information, visit http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org/.
Insect Shield Support Role: A shipment of Insect Shield repellent apparel and accessories for children was provided for the use of some of the participants at Hole in the Wall Camps. Protection from disease-carrying insects proves especially essential for these children because of their often-compromised immune systems.