The Cause
Malaria is the #1 killer of children in Africa, killing more than one million annually. Every 30 seconds a child dies. Sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net has been shown to reduce malaria transmission by at least 50% and the mortality of children under five by up to 25%. For as little as $10, one net can save as many as five lives.
In addition to the human toll malaria exacts, the economic and social impacts are also devastating: Sick children miss school, tourism suffers, and foreign investment is stifled. Annual economic loss in Africa due to malaria is estimated to be $12 billion, representing a crippling 1.3 percent annual loss in GDP growth in endemic countries. Malaria becomes a self-perpetuating problem, where the disease prevents the human and economic capital necessary to bring the disease under control. Moreover, malaria disproportionately affects the rural poor who can neither afford a bed net for prevention, nor access appropriate treatment when they fall sick.
Malaria No More Canada and Spread the Net work to raise the profile of malaria among the public, policy makers, and businesses, while engaging the private sector and individuals to provide life-saving bed nets and other critical interventions to families in Africa.