Yogya to host international convention on mosquito coils

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

The International Mosquito Spiral Manufacturer Association (IMSMA) is set to hold a four-day biennial convention on mosquito coils here, starting on Thursday.

The timely international convention, which comes amid an outbreak of malaria and dengue fever across the nation, aims to improve public services and promote the control of mosquito populations worldwide.

Over 100 delegations from various countries -- including Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand -- are expected at this year's convention, hosted by Indonesia.

The participants represent businesses and government institutions ranging from manufacturers of raw materials for mosquito spirals to mosquito spiral machine producers, and from the Indonesian Ministry of Health's Pesticide Commission to the Indonesian Mosquito Controllers Association (APNI), said Tata Kusnandar, the head of the convention's organizing committee.

Initiated in 1970 by a group of mosquito coil manufacturers, the IMSMA was established officially in Hong Kong on June 4, 1976, with a key objective to maintain a multilateral relationship among its corporate members. The association also provides a forum for exchanging research and innovative ideas on mosquito spiral products.

Although the association comprised only mosquito spiral producers at its outset, it eventually accepted other related manufacturers as passive members due to demand, including raw material suppliers and producers of other forms of anti-mosquito agents.

Harsono Kusnandar of Indonesia is the current IMSMA chairman for the 2003-2004 term. "We hold the convention biennially, during which we invite relevant experts to speak and share their knowledge on mosquito spirals as well as on efficient ways to combat mosquitoes," Tata said.

The IMSMA will also hold a two-day product exhibition in conjunction with the convention, from Friday to Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel here. The exhibition is open to the public and will feature various mosquito spiral products.

Mosquito coils are generally popular among low-income households in rural areas, including in Indonesia, because of their affordable prices.

Malaria and dengue fever are common in the countryside and remote regions, and widespread cases and outbreaks recur frequently. In the past few months, dozens of people were reported to have died of malaria and dengue fever across the nation.