Celebrate World Malaria Day -- Buy an African Kid a $7 Mosquito Net
One of the few brights spots these days is that millions of Americans finally realize the importance of global health. Today is world Malaria Day. If you're reading this, you probably already know that this is a huge killer, particularly of kids in sub-Saharan Africa. I was hoping to party with Brad and Angelina to celebrate the occasion. That probably won't happen since my daughter has soccer.
Instead, to honor the occasion I am buying bednets for some African kids. You should too. These cost maybe $7 each, and are among the most gloriously cost-effective things you can ever do to save lives and improve health. The charity link is
https://www.unfoundation.org/donate/donate.asp?program=malaria
This is a great organization.
Oh, buy buy a mosquito net in honor of your actual or hoped-for significant other. The UN Foundation will send him/her a cool email. Your love object wil receive this missive, and believe you are way cooler than you actually are.
As my wife will attest, it works for me. You can see my picture. So this must be working.
Postscript: Merrill Goozner has interesting posts on this
If you want more than my wiseguy post, here is a good start to get real information.
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I love the idea of a cost-effective non-drug marketing method of significantly decreasing the burden of disease and improving the quality of life of children, however, I am a bit concerned that these nets are a double edged sword for those who sleep under their safe haven due to them first being thoroughly slathered with DDT. We know that this chemical has the potential to do some nasty things to a developing child - are we killing them kindness by giving them a cure that may be worse then the disease?
Mesquito netting is vital to survival in Malaria-prone areas. This is an excellent program. Operation USA has been doing this for years, in various parts of the world. Malaria Day? I lmost missed it. www.bobbyvassallo.net
Wow! I agree with Dr. Pollack! Alert the media! Oh. This IS the media. Yes, the nets program is radically simple and it works! With no ugly side effects.
Rick Riley wrote about this for Sports Illustrated last year.
Yes. Buy a net. Buy several. It's an easy way to make this upside down world better for someone far away.
Kim Stagliano
HuffPo Blogger
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