New malaria partnership is a net gain for children at risk of killer disease

• World Vision and Against Malaria Foundation partner to combat malaria
• Goal of 3 million bed nets to be provided in four African countries
• Will provide long-lasting insecticidal nets for entire community in project areas

Washington, D.C., September 8, 2009—A new partnership between international aid agency World Vision and the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF) has formed as part of an effort to better protect children in Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique and Mali from malaria, one of the leading causes of death for African children.

Known as Operation Safety Net, the initiative launched by this trans-Atlantic partnership aims to provide three million insecticide-treated bed nets in four African countries, protecting an estimated 6 million people at risk of malaria.

“Malaria is decimating the lives of young children today, claiming nearly a million each year,” said Craig Jaggers, World Vision’s policy advisor for health. “We are working to wipe out this killer, community by community, so we don’t lose a generation of children to a disease that is entirely preventable.”

Operation Safety Net will focus its efforts on the large-scale distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets to all members of a community, not only those most vulnerable to the disease such as children under five and pregnant women. This method of universal coverage has proven to be highly effective in reducing child deaths. Relying on established local networks in countries where World Vision has programs, Operation Safety Net will be able to ensure long-lasting insecticidal nets are delivered at the household level, increasing the likelihood of proper net use.

“Ending needless deaths of children from mosquito bites requires putting the tools that we know work into the hands of families and supporting a local response to malaria in vulnerable communities. The partnership between Against Malaria Foundation and World Vision expands this approach in many hard-hit communities throughout sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere,” said Rob Mather, Executive Director for the Against Malaria Foundation.

“Preventing malaria is not overly complicated and is inexpensive by Western standards, yet for poor families, the few dollars it takes to purchase a net is beyond reach,” Jaggers said. “Regardless of age or income level, purchasing a net is one of the easiest things we can do to save the life of a child.”

Thanks to the partnership with the Against Malaria Foundation, World Vision will provide a long-lasting insecticidal net (which can cover two people) – and essential training on malaria – for only only $6.

World Vision operates child-focused relief and development programs in 63 of the 109 countries where malaria is endemic, including in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The public can contribute to Operation Safety Net by visiting www.AgainstMalaria.com/WorldVisionZambia1.


World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world’s poor - regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press.