CAMPAIGN BACKGROUNDER
Nothing But Nets
Nothing But Nets is a global grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, The people of The United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated. Other partners include Usher’s New Look, vh1, Boy Scouts of America, Major League Soccer’s MLS W.O.R.K.S., the National Basketball Association’s WNBA Cares, Orkin, Inc., Union For Reform Judaism, the Wasserman Foundation, and Vestergaard- Frandsen.
Malaria Kills
Malaria is preventable, but there more than 200 million cases of malaria each year, and nearly 1 million of those infected die from the disease. 90 percent of deaths caused by malaria occur in Africa, where a child dies every 45 seconds from the disease. Children who are able to survive malaria are faced with physical and mental impairments, such as poor growth and development. Moreover, every day 25 million pregnant African women risk severe illness and harm to their unborn children from a malaria infection. Malaria contributes to low birth weight among newborn infants, one of the leading risk factors for infant mortality. Malaria incapacitates people and keeps them from working while they recover or take care of sick children. Simply put, malaria keeps countries poor. In addition to the burden on the health system, malaria illness and death cost Africa $12 billion a year in lost productivity.
Send a Net
Every $10 donation to Nothing But Nets goes directly toward the purchase, distribution, and education about the proper use of a long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed net. Bed nets work in two ways: they stop mosquitoes from biting during the night and spreading the disease, and the insecticide on the net kills the mosquitoes when they land on it, preventing them from flying on to find their next victim. Bed nets can prevent malaria transmission by up to 90 percent in areas with high-coverage rates.
Save a Life
With your help, we can stop this deadly disease.
Please visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.
