5. Disease: Social Business for a Malaria Free World – BASF Grameen Limited

Badische Aniline und Soda Fabrik (BASF) (Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik (English: Baden Aniline and Soda Factory) Grameen Limited was formed in 2009 as a social business joint venture between BASF and Grameen Healthcare Trust to improve the health condition of the low-income people of Bangladesh. The chemical (interceptor) mosquito nets are the first product of this venture aiming to reduce insect-borne diseases such as malaria which has been a health risk for the poor living in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that protection provided by these nets against the night-active vector mosquitoes is the most effective means of preventing malaria infections. Against this backdrop, this chapter considers critical issues of this business venture attempting to solve societal needs including: the cost of each LLIN (Long Lasting Impregnated Net) as opposed to the average financial affordability of the poor, and the marketing mechanism of LLIN to target the poor living in the rural, slum and other disadvantaged areas.