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.
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.
Two expectant mothers in Malawi learn about using a mosquito net to protect themselves from malaria. Photo by Dr. Dorothy Brewster-Lee.
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.
U.S. Presbyterians also participate in the annual NetWorkers Mother’s Day activity, which supports NetWorkers Safe Motherhood projects for pregnant women in Malawi. |
