title: Strengthening public health pesticide management in countries endemic with malaria or other major vector-borne diseases: an evaluation of three strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Public health pesticides has been the mainstay control of vectors of malaria and other diseases, and public health pests, but there is increasing concern over how these pesticides are being managed. Poor pesticide management could lead to risks to human health and the environment, or diminish the effectiveness of interventions. Strategies for strengthening the management of public health pesticides, from manufacture to disposal, should be evaluated to propose future directions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The process and outcomes of three strategies were studied in five regions of the WHO (African Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, South-East Asia Region, Western Pacific Region, and American Region) and 13 selected countries. These strategies are: regional policy development, in-depth country support and thematic support across countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consensus, frameworks and action plans on public health pesticide management were developed at regional level. Country support for situation analysis and national action planning highlighted weaknesses over the entire spectrum of pesticide management practices, mainly related to malaria control. The thematic support on pesticide quality control contributed to structural improvements on a priority issue for malaria control across countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three strategies showed promising and complementary results, but guidelines and tools for implementation of the strategies should be further improved. Increased national and international priority should be given to support the development of policy, legislation and capacity that are necessary for sound management of public health pesticides.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Vector Ecology and Management, Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. yadavraj@who.int.
authors.forename: Rajpal S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaim
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010575:Pesticides; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides