SUCCESS STORIES

Vouchers for Insecticide Treated Nets Bring Economic Boost

---

Magu, Tanzania – His shop is not much bigger than a closet, but Boniphace Kabadi beams with pride as he displays his top selling item – insecticide treated nets. After numerous other careers, Boniphace, like countless other Tanzanian shop owners, saw a unique opportunity when the Tanzania National Voucher Scheme (TNVS) began. He went into the ITN business.

“I have had this store since early 2005, not long after pregnant women started getting vouchers for nets,” said Kabadi. “Now, we are seeing much success. Eight or ten women come in everyday with their vouchers, and local people come to buy nets at regular prices. It protects them from malaria, so people need it.”

By giving vouchers to expectant mothers, the TNVS helped create an immediate demand for ITNs throughout the country. Savvy shop owners like Kabadi stocked their shelves with nets, ensuring women would have a place to redeem their vouchers and buy discounted nets, while cultivating ITN awareness and demand among the entire community. Soon, families with children of all ages began buying nets as well for vital protection against malaria.

“Malaria was a big problem for us in the past, but now we are able to buy nets from the shops for our family,” said Maryana Maduhu of Kahangara village, a mother of six. “We can afford the nets, but did not always have a place to buy them.”

Along with nets, shopkeepers like Kabadi also stock ITN retreatment kits, since reapplying the insecticide is an essential aspect of maintaining net effectiveness.  Through the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) one retreatment packet is bundled with every net sold in Tanzania, with no additional charge to consumers.

“We have been using bed nets for a long time, and I always try to replace them when they wear out” said Lucas Buganda. “But I didn’t know about the retreatment kits until one came packaged together with the last net we bought. Now, we buy those kits also to make sure our nets keep killing the mosquitoes.”

To date, millions of ITNs and retreatment kits have been sold commercially in Tanzania. Additionally, more than 80% of vouchers for pregnant women are redeemed regularly, keeping shopkeepers like Boniphace Kabadi in the green, and Tanzanian families malaria free.