Every minute, malaria claims a life in Africa; but, malaria mortality rates are falling. Just a few short years ago, statistics showed a child died every 30 seconds of the mosquito-borne disease.

Beyond a discussion of cost savings and cost effectiveness, the real purpose behind World AIDS Day is saving human lives. The fight against HIV is far from over, but we can observe this World AIDS Day with optimism.

By asking ourselves critical questions about where ingredients like palm oil come from and under what conditions they are produced, we transcend the pattern of passive exploitative consumption that is destroying communities and ecosytems around the world.

While malaria can be prevented by sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net, for residents of the Mbala area development program, finding money to purchase a bed net is almost impossible.

When the power of small donations connects with the needs and concerns of under-served populations, the results are often extraordinary.