I get so annoyed when my daughter comes in from playing out in the backyard with mosquito bites all over her. It looks awful and the itching makes her very uncomfortable. I don't really worry about malaria, though. Not the case for mothers in Africa!
Did you know that malaria has been eradicated from the United States for over 50 years? It has been under control, and in some instances, eliminated from parts of Europe, Asia and the Americas. However, malaria is the #1 single killer of children under the age of 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. More than 850,000 people a year die of malaria. The most astounding fact to me, though, is that it is totally preventable and treatable.
The mosquitoes are nocturnal in Africa. That's why a bed net is often all it takes to protect a mother and her children. For the small cost of $10, you can provide a bed net that will protect a mother and infant or two children for a period of 5 years. That is what Malaria No More does. Through donations, they provide long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets for families in Africa. Sounds simple, doesn't it?
If you are interested in finding out more information about Malaria No More or donating to them, visit www.malarianomore.org .
