Table 1 Time line of events in the implementation of an insecticide treated nets subsidy scheme under a Public – Private -Partnership for malaria control in Tanzania

1984 – 1994

Research in Tanzania on insecticide treated nets in experimental huts and small-scale field trials

1994

Kunduchi Meeting, Dar-es- Salaam on 'Net Gain'* – first international/broad discussion on social marketing of ITNs

1996

British Council Meeting, Dar-es-Salaam Tanzania Essential Health Intervention Project (TEHIP) invites stakeholders to discuss on 'How to measure mortality impact in populations,' prior to the launch of the Demographic Surveillance System in Rufiji. The KINET project was conceptualised here

1994 – 1996

Randomized controlled trials on the impact of ITNs on overall childhood mortality

1996

DRC – Development of home-treatment kit for the treatment of mosquito nets

1997

International Advisor from the Tanzania Essential Health Project and Director of Promotional Services International approach A to Z Textile Mills on the issue of increasing production on mosquito nets (This was during the International Public Health Association meeting in Arusha).

First International Conference on Bed-nets and other treated materials for the prevention of malaria**, Washington, USA

The Tanzania Essential Health Intervention Project (TEHIP) is launched in Rufiji and Morogoro Rural

1998

Meeting at White Sands Hotel, Dar-es-Salaam to discuss Marketing Challenges in the Promotion of ITNs***. This was a multisectoral meeting involving both the public and private and the NGO sector. Major agenda was the rationalization of taxes and tariffs on ITNs in Tanzania

The Roll Back Malaria Partnership is created

1998 – 2001

First and second phase of social marketing of Insecticide treated nets – Population Services International

1999

Three textile manufacturing companies scale up production of mosquito nets [A to Z Textile Mills and Sunflag Textile industries in Arusha and Tanzania Textile Manufacturing Limited (TMTL) in Dar-es-Salaam]

Second International conference on Insecticide treated Nets for the prevention of malaria, Dar-es-Salaam****

Ad hoc meeting of a decides to go to national scale

Multilateral Initiative for Malaria (MIM) – Dar-es-Salaam

1999/2000

Rationalization of Taxes and tariffs on mosquito nets. Legislation is passed mosquito nets are zero rated VAT and import duty. Mosquito nets are classified under the essential drug list. Polyester yarn is still levied 20% VAT but is refundable to the manufacturer on production of relevant documents

2000/2001

Insecticides for treating mosquito nets are zero rated VAT and import duty, polyester yarn is also zero rated VAT and import duty