NetsforLife, an international non-profit organization, plans to bring together corporations, foundations, faith-based organizations and private donors in a collaborative initiative focused on eliminating Malaria in Africa .

The organization has embarked on its second phase, an initiative to mobilize over 30,000 volunteers to distribute the mosquito nets to 17 countries in sub-Sahara Africa over the next five years.

NetsforLife intends to reaffirm this pledge at the One World Against Malaria Summit hosted by the U.N. Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Malaria and the Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty in Washington D.C. this week to mark World Malaria Day on April 25th.

Malaria is one of the biggest killers in the developing world. Transmitted through infected mosquitoes, malaria, infects 300 to 500 million people every year, kills one million a year, the majority are children under five and 3,000 children die a day from malaria. About 90% of all malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and it is estimated to cost $12 billion in lost productivity in Africa.

Benefits

The distribution of one insecticide-treated net can save three people from malaria. Seven million nets can save 21 million from illness and death. When insecticide-treated nets are properly used by three-quarters of the community, malaria transmission is cut by 50%, child deaths by 20%, and the mosquito population drops by as much as 90%.

“Before NetsforLife came to this area, community members used to wake me up in the middle of the night at least four times every month to baptize and anoint a sick child, only to bury him or her the next day. Since the program started, such midnight calls have ceased … NetsforLife is saving lives” said Father James Okwonga of Mugarus ya Parish in Uganda .

Standard Chartered Bank, a corporate sponsor of NetsforLife, has led the way into Phase 2 by committing to an additional five years of support. Other sponsors include ExxonMobil Foundation, Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, the private Starr International Foundation, White Flowers Foundation, and NGO partner Episcopal Relief & Development.

Meanwhile in Zambia, Standard Chartered Bank has been running the Nets4Life programme in partnership with the Zambia Anglican Council and have distributed over 200,000 nets in over 21 project sites across the country in the last three years.

Standard Chartered Bank Zambia Plc Managing Director & CEO, Mizinga Melu said: “We have extended the programme which is now under phase II and we intend to reach out to more people and more communities.

We will continue to work very closely with the Government through the Ministry of Health, the Malaria Control Centre and other health authorities to ensure the success of this initiative. Whether it is local projects involving our staff here in Zambia or Pan Africa initiatives, our commitment remains the same. It is a vital part of what we do, in Zambia, in Africa , globally. As part of activities to commemorate World Malaria Day, Standard Chartered will distribute mosquito nets to all staff as a demonstration of our commitment to eradicate Malaria.”