Yogya to host international convention on mosquito coils

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.