Americans Act Quickly to Save Lives in Central Africa

Today, theUnited Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign, PSI (Population Services International), and UNICEF announced the successful delivery of nearly 1 million anti-malaria mosquito nets in the Central African Republic (CAR)-providing one net to each family in the country. The families received their nets less than six months after the UN identified an urgent need to protect them against malaria and thousands of Americans rallied to answer the call for help.

To ensure mosquito nets reached homes as quickly as possible, the UN Foundation's Nothing But Nets-a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria in Africa, partnered with PSI to call on its supporters across the country to help fill the need by the end of 2010. Singer, actress, and PSI ambassador MAndy Moore helped the campaign raise awareness and encouraged people to donate. "I had the opportunity to meet families, visit clinics, and deliver nets in the Central African Republic, and saw the need first-hand," said Moore of her trip last October. "The fact that thousands of people around the country came together so quickly to help protect families on the other side of the world is overwhelming, and so inspiring."

Malaria is prevalent throughout the CAR year-round and is the leading killer of children under the age of five. "The high rate of malaria in this country is a severe problem, and using long-lasting, insecticide-treated nets is one of the best, most cost-effective ways for families to protect themselves from the disease," said Tanya Chapuisat, Country Representative for UNICEF in CAR. "We are very thankful for the contributions that have helped us distribute nets to save lives."

"We reached this goal by working together," said Adrianna Logalbo, director of the Nothing But Nets campaign. "We are grateful for the strong partnerships and dedicated supporters who helped send nets to save lives in the Central African Republic, bringing us one step closer to reaching the goal of ending malaria deaths by 2015." Nothing But Nets worked with its UN partners - especially UNICEF and the World Health Organization-PSI, and the CAR Ministry of Health to deliver the nets on the ground.

To date, Nothing But Nets has raised more than $35 million to distribute over 4 million nets to families throughout Africa. Every 45 seconds, a child dies from malaria -- which is easily prevented through the use of an insecticide-treated net. The nets create a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of malaria transmissions occur. One long-lasting, insecticide-treated net can protect a family of four, and lasts up to three years. A net costs just $10 to purchase, deliver, and educate the recipient on its proper use. For more information, please visit www.NothingButNets.net.