The Malaria/DDT War—Part MCLXXXVIII

In a Wall Street Journal op/ed, the director general of health services for the Republic of Uganda, Sam Zaramba, asks Western environmentalists to get out of the way and let his country use DDT to save people's lives. To wit:

Although Uganda's National Environmental Management Authority has approved DDT for malaria control, Western environmentalists continue to undermine our efforts and discourage G-8 governments from supporting us. The EU has acknowledged our right to use DDT, but some consumer and agricultural groups repeat myths and lies about the chemical. They should instead help us use it strictly to control malaria.

Environmental leaders must join the 21st century, acknowledge the mistakes Carson made, and balance the hypothetical risks of DDT with the real and devastating consequences of malaria. Uganda has demonstrated that, with the proper support, we can conduct model indoor spraying programs and ensure that money is spent wisely, chemicals are handled properly, our program responds promptly to changing conditions, and malaria is brought under control.

And for what it's worth, the World Health Organization has also approved the indoor use of DDT for controlling malaria mosquitoes.

Whole WSJ op/ed here.