Sumitomo Chemical and A To Z Textile Mills Join “United Against Malaria” Campaign

Olyset® Net manufacturers join football campaign to promote understanding of malaria prevention throughout Africa during World Cup 2010

(New York, 30 October 2009) — Sumitomo Chemical (Tokyo) and A to Z Textile Mills (Tanzania) have announced their partnership with United Against Malaria (www.unitedagainstmalaria.org). As the manufacturers of Olyset Net, Sumitomo Chemical and A to Z Textiles are committed to increasing malaria prevention, and their 2010 program will be focused on changing attitudes and behavior in Africa regarding bednets.

The Olyset Net manufacturing partners join football stars, celebrities, NGOs and corporations in support of the 2010 goal of universal access to mosquito nets and malaria medicine in Africa, and the longer-term goal of a sustainable elimination of malaria by 2015.

Malaria kills approximately 1 million African children every year and is one of the principal causes of rural poverty. But malaria can be prevented. The United Against Malaria campaign initiatives will draw on the enormous popularity of football in Africa to educate people on how to protect themselves against malaria.

Sumitomo Chemical and A to Z Textile Mills are proud to join forces with the United Against Malaria Campaign, whose founding partners include Comic Relief, Johns Hopkins University, Malaria No More, the ONE Campaign, PATH, Population Services International, Roll Back Malaria and the United Nations Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Aiming to raise awareness of the worldwide commitment to end malaria, the campaign will stage high-profile public events leading up to next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

”Many African communities are receiving bednets for the first time through mass distribution campaigns across the continent. With United Against Malaria, football stars will help new bednet users better understand the value of their nets,” said Tatsuo Mizuno, General Manager, Vector Control Division, Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited. ”Despite having a keen interest in football, the only goal I am truly interested in seeing achieved in 2010 is ‘Nets for all’.”