Networkers Malaria Prevention Program
The NetWorkers Malaria Prevention Program was developed by International Health and Development in response to the tragic human toll of malaria, which claims over a million lives each year. Malaria is the leading cause of death among children under 5 in Africa and a major health threat to pregnant women.
Two expectant mothers in Malawi learn about using a mosquito net to protect themselves from malaria. Photo by Dr. Dorothy Brewster-Lee.The economic toll of malaria is also staggering. Repeated bouts of malaria rob families of the ability to work while also diverting scarce income to pay for treatment, thus repeating a cycle of poverty and illness.
Fortunately, because malaria is a disease caused by parasites borne by night-biting mosquitoes, infection can be significantly reduced simply by sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net. Nets are effective, inexpensive and easy to use. The NetWorkers program provides nets and malaria prevention education at project sites Africa and Asia.
NetWorkers projects are community-based, implemented by the women of our PC(USA) partner churches overseas. At each project site, NetWorkers committees use Christ-centered educational materials to teach their neighbors how to prevent malaria, and they make nets available at locally affordable prices. The word of God’s love and care is delivered by NetWorkers, along with the life-saving malaria prevention lessons.
Led by the Presbyterian Women's groups, congregations in the United States support the NetWorkers Program by helping to purchase nets, insecticide and educational materials. Young people in our congregations can help provide nets for children by participating in the "Nickels for Nets" mission activity.
The NetWorkers Malaria Prevention Program is supported through PC(USA)’s “Healthy Women Healthy Families” account (E052095) and by the annual Healthy Women Healthy Families Mother’s Day Project.
Children Can Be NetWorkers Too
Malaria kills a child every 30 seconds, making it the most common cause of death among children in Africa and the second leading cause of death among children in Asia. This year alone, 700,000 children, most under age 5, will die from malaria. Millions of other children fall behind in their education, as an average of six malaria bouts each year makes them miss school repeatedly.
These children can be protected from malaria by sleeping under a mosquito net. And children in the United States can help provide those nets. Resources to teach children about malaria and engage them in the NetWorkers project are available for download.
Children in your congregation can make a "Nickels For Nets" bank and save coins to provide a net for a child in Africa. The Nickels for Nets bank wrapper can be downloaded and printed for easy use. A color handout, "Mosquito Nets for Kids," that will help young people learn about malaria and how they can help other children, can also be downloaded, along with a children's sermon.
Every 10 dollars collected provides a mosquito net and malaria prevention education for a family in sub-Saharan Africa.
Contact Gail Bingham for more information at (888) 728-7228, x5573 or by email.
Download Nickels for Nets Resources
Mosquito nets for kids
Download from resource archives
Nickels for nets bank label
Download from resource archives
