Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

A to Z Textiles

last updated Oct 18, 2011

Overview

Implementation Partner(s): 
Sumitomo Chemical, Exxon Mobil, World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Legal Status: 
Public-private partnership
Year Launched: 
2004
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
All income levels

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Other 3rd party (e.g. debt, equity)
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Donor
Funders: 
Acumen Fund

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
100<
Summary: 

A to Z Textile Mills is protecting millions of people from malaria. Each year, the Tanzania-based company produces 29 million low-cost, long-lasting anti-malaria bednets.

Program goals/rationale: 

Nearly one million people in Africa die every year from malaria. At greatest risk are pregnant women and children under five. Those who cannot afford treatment or have limited access to health care are disproportionately affected.Bednets are one of the most effective ways to prevent the transmission of malaria. Treated nets kill the mosquitoes on contact – but the cost of re-treating a conventional bednet with insecticide every few months is too heavy a burden for many people.

Key program components: 

In 2004, A to Z Textile Mills of Tanzania became the sole African producer of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets, able to kill mosquitoes on contact for five years without retreatment and resistant to tears. The venture’s success relies on a broad public-private partnership. Sumitomo, a Japanese company, transfers technology and chemicals to A to Z through a loan from Acumen Fund. Exxon Mobil sells resin for the nets to A to Z and donates funds to UNICEF to buy the treated nets for the most vulnerable children. UNICEF and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria act as buyers of last resort, guaranteeing to buy all the nets that do not clear normal market channels. A to Z makes nets available through direct and mobile marketing. The government promotes via social marketing through a national voucher scheme that brings subsidized treated nets to pregnant mothers and children under five.

A to Z’s bed nets are effective for up to five years, instead of the usual six months, and do not need to be re-treated. A to Z has also become one of the largest employers in Africa, providing jobs for 7,000 people, primarily women.

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