Prepared for the World Economic Forum in 2002 INDUSTRIAL ANTI-MALARIA POLICIES

Industrial operations in malaria-endemic regions require a cogent plan for anti-malaria interventions. INSERT MAP Industrial anti-malaria interventions should conform to certain " Best Practice " guidelines, based on substantiated epidemiological evidence. Risk of infection of the residents of the region must be minimised, and non-immune visitors should be protected totally. The quality of the general environment in the vicinity of the industrial operation must be preserved and improved, as appropriate. An integrated program of anti-malaria interventions directed at appropriate components of the transmission cycle is critical. The program must be well administered, and the worker community must be educated in various facets of malariology and recruited into the anti-malaria effort. With few exceptions, the level of funding allocated by industry for anti-malaria programs appears inadequate for the required health goals. Companies practice a false economy if they operate in malaria-endemic regions without comprehensive anti-malaria programmes. A compelling business rationale requires companies operating in malarious regions to have programs that: • Protect locally resident employees against malaria infection. Such programmes preserve worker productivity, reduce health-care costs, limit insurance costs and increase the companies' ability to compete for workers of the best quality. • Protect workers' dependants. The business case rests on the worker absenteeism that results from caring for a sick dependent. In addition, programmatic effectiveness increases where worker families receive effective health care. Lastly, given the burden of malaria mortality on children, we believe that the responsibility is compelling ethically compelling. • Protect nationals residing near the industrial operation. The concept of 'local license to operate' mandates corporate responsibility to protect the health of communities located close to sites of industrial activity. • Protect expatriate employees to the greatest extent possible. Because expatriates lack anti-malaria immunity they are far more vulnerable to severe morbidity and mortality than are long-term residents of malaria-endemic sites. The health-care costs for expatriates, including the cost of evacuation and treatment, are particularly great. Liability, health and life insurance for such employees are also costly, but can be reduced by demonstrating effective protective measures. 3 • Protect the families of expatriate employees. Health-care and evacuation costs, medical and life insurance and liability provisions are required. Family anxiety is a particular concern because it impedes worker recruitment. When a company becomes involved in a developing country, it assumes certain obligations to the host country, a requirement recognised in ethical investment terminology as " earning a local license …