Nothing But Nets Helps Deliver 200,000 Anti-Malaria Nets to Children in Republic of Congo

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) October 16, 2007 -- Nothing But Nets (www.NothingButNets.net), a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa, announced today it will fund the distribution and delivery of over 200,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to children under five and pregnant women in Congo-Brazzaville from October 15-19, 2007. Purchased with over $1 million in donations from individual donors, these nets will be distributed as part of an integrated health campaign organized and implemented by the Congo?s Ministry of Health and the Measles Initiative -- a partnership of the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation (www.unfoundation.org), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF.

?By working together, we can help make a difference and protect children and their families from malaria. Thank you to our tens of thousands of supporters that each donated $10 or more to send nets and save lives,? said Kathy Calvin, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the United Nations Foundation, creator of Nothing But Nets.

According to UNICEF, only about five percent of pregnant women and children under five sleep beneath insecticide-treated bed nets in Congo. This month, a total of 500,000 insecticide-treated nets will be delivered by the Measles Initiative throughout Congo, in an effort to reach nearly every child under five with a net. In addition to the insecticide treated nets, children will also receive measles and polio vaccines, as well as Vitamin A and de-worming medicines as part of the integrated health campaign.

To date, Nothing But Nets has distributed close to 200,000 insecticide-treated nets in Nigeria, Chad, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By the end of 2007, nearly half a million insecticide-treated nets will be distributed to Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, and Mali. A new, interactive map offering more information about past and future distributions can be found at www.NothingButNets.net.

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 Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly, tens 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.

Press Contacts:

Amy DiElsi, United Nations Foundation

(o) 202.419.3230, (e) adielsi @ unfoundation.org

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