Each year, nearly 500 million people contract malaria.  Africa has one of the highest malaria infection rates in the world. Annually it is estimated that one million people die from malaria worldwide, with nearly 90% (900,000) of deaths occurring in Africa. It is the leading cause of death in children under five years old and kills one in 20 children on the continent. Pregnant women and their unborn babies are also vulnerable to malaria.

Episcopal Relief and Development is an implementing partner of the NetsforLifeSM malaria prevention program. NetsforLifeSM aims to distribute one million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and educate three to four million people in 16 countries in sub Saharan Africa. The program will teach people of malaria disease and prevention through community health education and awareness programs.  NetsforLifeSM is a consortium of funding and implementing partners that work through Churches and ecumenical partners in Africa to mobilize grassroots communities to prevent, recognize, and treat malaria. Corporate sponsors of NetsforLifeSM include Standard Chartered Bank, Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and ExxonMobil.

The NetsforLifeSM comprehensive malaria prevention program:

• promotes the importance of sleeping under long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLITNs),
• trains individuals in household and community vector control techniques, such as eliminating standing pools of water
• advocates for the treatment of malaria infection through anti-malarial drug treatments and Rapid Diagnostics Tests (RDTs).

For more information on NetsforLifeSM, please visit http://www.netsforlifeafrica.org/.