On July 21, 2020, HIL (formerly Hindustan Insecticides Limited), a PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has supplied 20.60 Metric tonne of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) 75 % Wettable powder (WP) to South Africa for their Malaria control program in three province adjoining Mozambique. The region is highly affected with Malaria and it has reported maximum morbidity and mortality due to the disease in recent years.
- It is to be noted that HIL is the sole manufacturer of DDT globally.
HIL supplies to other countries:
-The company is in process of supplying DDT 75% WP to Zimbabwe (128 MT) and Zambia (113 MT) in the current FY 2020-21.
-It has recently exported 25 MT of Malathion Technical 95% to Iran under Government-to-Government initiative for the Locust Control Programme and also exported Agrochemical-fungicide (32 MT) to Latin American region.
Malaria- A global Disease
In 2018, an estimated 228 million cases of malaria occurred globally and most cases and deaths (93%) were reported from African Region. In the South East Asia Region, India accounts for the majority of cases and death.
- Usage of DDT: Spraying of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) in houses is an effective mosquito control tool. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends DDT as one of the efficient IRS chemicals to curb malaria and it is widely used by Southern African countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique etc. and India.
About HIL:
It was incorporated in 1954 to manufacture and supply DDT to the Government of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for malaria control programme. In the year 2019-20, the product was supplied to 20 States in the country.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)– Dr. SP Mohanty
Headquarter– New Delhi
About South Africa:
Capitals– Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein
Currency– South African rand
President– Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
