Health Sector Driving Paints Industry in Africa
by Shem Oirere
Africa Correspondent
The drive by public and private in- stitutions to maintain high health standards has opened new avenues for paint companies in Africa to
produce paint solutions that safeguard
the health of consumers. The new paint
products underpin recent growth of some
of the companies’ market share and improved financial performance.
Africa’s health sector is facing serious challenges in meeting the needs of a
fast-growing population, collapsing and
diminishing health infrastructure. This
has informed the intensified campaigns
by public and private sector to promote
preventive health practices.
Campaigns to control contaminable
diseases in institutions such as hospitals,
schools, restaurants and factories has
triggered research into viable paint solutions to enhance high health standards
alongside maintaining the aesthetic value
of the painted surfaces.
Paint makers in the region have responded to calls by governments in
Africa for cheaper paint solutions that
could help prevent disease outbreaks
as the continent grapples with a population explosion that had hit a billion
people by 2010.
The surge in population has in turn
created huge demand for more hospitals, schools, factories and eating
places, which are known to be vulnerable to bacterial growth and breeding
grounds for vectors such as mosquitoes. The expansion of these institutions and infrastructure has not only
created demand for paint for aesthetic
purposes but also paint that can keep
the surfaces clean and eliminate disease causing environment.
The UN World Population Prospects
said Africa’s population will increase to 1.4
billion in 2025 and 1.9 billion by 2050.
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Paint makers such as Basco Paints,
Crown Paints, Dulux South Africa and
Kansani Plascon have introduced anti-bacterial and mosquito repellent paints in
the market as a response to the spread of
microorganisms, communicable diseases
and deadly fevers.
For example Basco Paints, one of the
leading paint makers in Eastern Africa,
broke ground for players in the market
when it launched the first anti-bacterial paint in this part of Africa over six
months ago.
The Duracoat Anti-Bacterial Paint,
which Basco Paints said is “innovative
and one of its kind” ensures sustainable protection against bacteria and
mould and also minimises the spread of
disease and infection from antiobiotic
resistant superbugs such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA),
Salmonella, E. COLI.
“It reduces the risk of infections for
the lifetime of the paint,” said Kamlesh
Shah, the company’s managing director.
“This product is long overdue and will
help enhance the well being of people in
many industries and environments that
are prone to infections.”
The introduction of Duracoat Anti-
Bacterial Paint came barely months af-
ter the company pioneered the making
of paint with lower levels of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), Duracoat
Eco-friendly paint. This is despite lack
of legal framework on the VOCs in
the region.
“Global efforts are now concentrated
towards reduction of emission of harmful gases to the atmosphere and we are
happy to do our part in contributing to
the green economy,” said Shah previously during the launch of the eco-friendly
paints in the market.
However, it is the introduction of the
anti-bacterial paint solution that has
glued the link between better healthcare
and the paints industry.
The Duracoat Anti-Bacterial Paint, an
www.coatingsworld.com
emulsion paint, Shah said, is long overdue
“and will help enhance the well-being of
people in many industries and environ-
ments that are prone to infections.”
“The paint is available in three vari-
ants of silk, matt and satin and over
7,000 shades to meet the needs of any
user,” added Shah.
The anti-bacterial paint, which dries
within half an hour and can be recoat-
ed within three hours, is best suited for
damp and humid surfaces such as bath-
rooms, toilets and kitchens “to stop the
buildup of bacteria and mould which
pose a variety of health risks.”
Basco Paints also makes and distrib-
utes other paint solutions in Eastern
and Central Africa such as Duracoat
Royale, Duracoat, Basco Paints, Ennis
Prismo Thermoplastic Road Marking
Paints (UK), Pat’s Décor Special
Finishes (France), San Deco Special
Finishes (Turkey), Real Roc Finishes
(Turkey) and Auto Guard Range for
vehicles.
Another paint market leader Crown
Paints Kenya, has also unveiled a new
anti-bacterial paint, increasing the variety
of such paint solutions for healthcare enthusiasts to choose from.
The product, known as Medicryl Silk
Emulsion, targets institutions where high
level hygienic conditions are paramount
in safeguarding people’s health.
Rakesh Rao, the CEO of the Nairobi
Securities Exchange-listed Crown Paints
Kenya, is proud that his company has got
a footing in the health sector with the introduction of Medicryl.
“Medicryl will enhance the environment in which we care for patients in
Kenya and help reduce hospital-related
infections,” said Rao.
A study funded by Wellcome Trust and
published in “Lancet” two years ago said
one in every 20 patients dies from hospital-acquired infections in Africa.
Unlike in developed countries where
promotion of cleanliness among hospital
