In a number of African countries affected by malaria, BNP Paribas is to distribute mosquito nets treated with insecticide to the employees of its subsidiaries. A total of 5,000 mosquito nets, two per family, will be distributed in Senegal, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and the Republic of Guinea. This operation was a joint effort between the bank’s Paris-based teams and its local teams.

Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes which affects more than 500 million people each year and kills more than one million—90% of whom are in Africa, and most of whom are young children. As long-term preventative drug treatment is not feasible, so prevention remains the only effective means of dealing with the disease. The use of mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide has proven to be one of the most effective forms of prevention, reducing mortality rates by 20%.

Mosquito nets have already been distributed in Mali and Senegal and the operation will be extended to the other countries over the next few months, at an appropriate time for each country. In addition to these efforts, subsidiaries of BNP Paribas in Africa will be taking preventive action by raising the awareness among their staff. In Senegal, for example, a communications campaign is planned, which will include posters, internet and the bank’s network of screens, and “Stop Malaria” bracelets, to be handed out to staff members.