WHAT’S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT?
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nothing But Nets?
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading cause of death of children in Africa. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, who challenged each of his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of a life-saving bed net, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006.
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading cause of death of children in Africa. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, who challenged each of his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of a life-saving bed net, hundreds of thousands of people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006.
How can I help?
Send a net and save a life. You can save a life by making a $10 donation at www.NothingButNets.net. It’s that easy. Then help us save more lives by spreading the word and getting your friends, family, and community involved. Start a NETraiser team and check out our toolkits online for resources to help you get started.
How does my $10 donation get to Africa?
Nothing But Nets and its UN partners — UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the UN Refugee Agency — work together to figure out where the nets are needed most, purchase the nets, transport them, and deliver them to families across Africa. To get the nets where they need to go, we draw on the success and wide reach of the Measles Initiative — a partnership led by the UN Foundation, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Red Cross, committed to reducing measles deaths globally. In addition to distributing more than 31 million insecticide-treated bed nets, the Measles Initiative has helped deliver more than 500 million vaccinations and other health services to children in hard-to-reach areas of Africa.
How do the bed nets save lives?
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.
How many people die from malaria every year?
Malaria is one of the most serious global health issues facing the world. There more than 200 million cases of malaria each year, and nearly 1 million of those infected die from the disease. Malaria is particularly devastating in Africa, where it is a leading killer of children, accounting for 20 percent of all childhood deaths.
Why should I donate money for nets?
Why should I donate money for nets?
There are many different ways to prevent malaria; bed nets, medicines, indoor spraying efforts, and water treatment are all important tools. At this time, there is not a consistently effective malaria vaccine. The parasite Plasmodium, which carries the disease, changes rapidly and can become drug resistant. Nets are one of the most effective ways to prevent malaria and are an easy way for individuals to make a difference in combating the disease.
Why did the United Nations Foundation decide to get involved in this cause?
The United Nations Foundation has been working to fight malaria for years. In 2006, when sports columnist Rick Reilly wrote a column about malaria in Sports Illustrated, thousands of people responded with letters and donations. The United Nations Foundation decided to build on that momentum, and Nothing But Nets was born.
What other organizations are involved in the campaign?
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.
How much overhead does the United Nations Foundation take from my donation?
Thanks to generous funding partners, 100 percent of your donations is used to purchase nets, distribute them to families and provide education on the proper use of the net.
