More Life-saving Bed Nets Sent to Refugees than Ever Before

The United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets—a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria in Africa—reached its 2009 goal to send over 600,000 long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets to more than one million refugees in Africa. With the help of its partners and supporters, the campaign worked with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to provide nets to displaced families in 15 African countries.

“When UNHCR asked us to join them in protecting refugees from malaria, the number one killer of refugees on the continent, we didn’t hesitate,” said Adrianna Logalbo, director of Nothing But Nets. “Our partners and supporters also felt the urgency and we thank them for sending nets and saving lives to cover the need.”

“Nothing But Nets made a remarkable commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in Africa, and we’re seeing results,” said Dr. Burton Wagacha, UNHCR Kenya Health Coordinator. “With support from the grassroots campaign, 84% of children under the age of 5 in Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp are now sleeping under nets. As a result, malaria has dropped from the leading cause of morbidity and mortality to number five.”

Weeks before the deadline, the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, a founding partner, stepped up to help Nothing But Nets reach its goal. They launched “Send a Net. Save a Life. See a Game. presented by HP,” a promotion offering two free tickets for every $10 donation. Within days, thousands of people logged on to www.NothingButNets.net to send nets and save lives.

Along with the NBA Cares promotion, ESPN sportswriter Rick Reilly, who inspired the United Nations Foundation to create the Nothing But Nets campaign through his May 2006 Sports Illustrated column, matched donations up to a total of $25,000.

“We are amazed by the generosity of our champions, partners, and supporters during the holiday season,” said Logalbo. “Because of the extra push, we secured the nets necessary to give families the safety nets they need to survive. This accomplishment brings us one step closer to covering Africa with life-saving nets.”

To see a video highlighting the impact of nets delivered to refugees, visit the Nothing But Nets website.

Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets are one of the most cost-effective methods of preventing malaria. They create a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of malaria transmissions occur.  One bed net can protect a family of four, and lasts up to five years.  It costs just $10 to purchase, deliver, and educate the recipient on its proper use.

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About 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. It only costs $10 to provide an insecticide-treated bed net that can prevent this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.

Media Contact: Amy DiElsi, United Nations Foundation, (202) 419-3230 or adielsi@unfoundation.org