In the village of Tafo in Ghana, SC Johnson is now transitioning to community-management the successful mosquito trap test we have been funding since 2003. SC Johnson purchased and set up portable mosquito traps to understand their impact on malaria in a defined community. As part of the program, a local medical clinic collected data on local malaria incidence.

The results are definitive. Since 2002, the traps have protected an area where about 2,700 people live. Our statistical analysis shows that since 2002, about 6,000 malaria cases were prevented among these residents. Likewise, the incidence trend has been notable. While total incidents of malaria in the unprotected area served by the same clinic have risen, in the trap test area there has not been a corresponding increase.

SC Johnson’s sponsorship of the Tafo test included purchasing and placing the traps, sponsoring their use and maintenance, providing propane for trap fuel and, in 2004, providing a gas supply tank as a continuing source of propane for the traps and the community.

In keeping with sustainable development principles, our ultimate goal was to transition the program to the community so its impact would continue, and this has been accomplished.

Being a community-managed effort has led to local economic value in the form of new jobs to manage the propane supply and the ongoing maintenance of the traps.