DDT and Malaria

The Economic Analysis of DDT

Economic Costs of Malaria

		Cost (in Rand)	% of Total
Indirect Costs	Productivity Costs	5,082,550	41
			
Direct Costs	Malaria Tests	595,167	5
	Evacuation Costs	2,794,000	22
	Drug Costs	640,349	5
	Physician/Nurse Time
	2,122,577
	17
	Hospital Costs	1,197,737	10 

References

Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, is a pesticide that has been banned in the United States, Europe, and many other countries. Currently it is used for an emergency basis in many developing countries, such as Africa and South America, for combatting Malaria. We will be focusing on Sub-saharan Africa and their uses of pesticides, specifically DDT, to battle Malaria. We understand the externality costs on the health of humans and wildlife, but in these extenuating circumstances we support the use of DDT as a lesser of two evils. By analyizing the costs and benefits of using DDT in these third world countries, we have found that the use of DDT has lower monetary costs. The risk of humans contracting Malaria, has higher economic costs that hinder the development of the country. It is common in Sub-Saharan African countries, for the citizens to be more concerned with their conditions rather than factors that could effect their health later in life. However, we hope to also stress the necessity of devloping alternative technology that could become viable in the future to eliminate Malaria .