Christ United Methodist Church is joining other Methodist churches and some other groups in sponsoring a Skeeter Run to raise funds to buy mosquito nets. A worthwhile cause but sadly lacking in effective control of mosquitoes and eliminating malaria.
A couple of Sundays ago our pastor made an announcement that angered me. In promoting the Skeeter Run he said that every time a mosquito net is purchased a child's life is saved. I wish it were so. Nets can give only partial and temporary protection from mosquitoes that carry malaria. The war must be carried to the mosquito by destroying breeding areas and by spraying with an effective insecticide. Millions of lives were saved when we sprayed with DDT and millions of lives have been sacrificed because we banned the use of DDT. I would have appreciated the preacher more if he had pointed this out while asking for funds to buy nets.
Last year I commented on how costly the ban of DDT has been and I received dozens of responses supporting me. I had not realized how many people are so angry that we do not use an insecticide and save millions of lives.
A couple of Sundays ago our pastor made an announcement that angered me. In promoting the Skeeter Run he said that every time a mosquito net is purchased a child's life is saved. I wish it were so. Nets can give only partial and temporary protection from mosquitoes that carry malaria. The war must be carried to the mosquito by destroying breeding areas and by spraying with an effective insecticide. Millions of lives were saved when we sprayed with DDT and millions of lives have been sacrificed because we banned the use of DDT. I would have appreciated the preacher more if he had pointed this out while asking for funds to buy nets.
Last year I commented on how costly the ban of DDT has been and I received dozens of responses supporting me. I had not realized how many people are so angry that we do not use an insecticide and save millions of lives.
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