San Francisco Supporters Send More than 1,000 Bed Nets to Protect Refugees in Africa from Malaria

San Francisco |  September 17, 2009

Nothing But Nets—a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria—hosted a public rally yesterday in Justin Herman Plaza, where community leaders and members came together to sign a large ‘message of hope’ that will accompany the life-saving bed nets distributed to refugees in Africa. An anonymous donor issued a challenge for yesterday’s event: if more than 200 supporters signed the large banner to show their support, the donor would contribute 1,000 long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets to protect displaced families in Africa.  By the end of the rally, the goal was reached with nearly 400 signatures.

Mayor Newsom declared this week Nothing But Nets week in San Francisco.  During the rally, campaign partners from Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the United Methodist Church, and the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, spoke about malaria’s massive impact, and thanked San Francisco for its support in protecting refugees and putting an end to the disease.

“The Bay Area has the largest concentration of supporters for our campaign to end malaria,” said Adrianna Logalbo, director of the Nothing But Nets Campaign, “we are excited to be here to thank you for your efforts in spreading awareness of this deadly disease, and for your commitment to sending nets and saving lives.”

The rally was surrounded by a display of fifty bed nets, and the crowd enjoyed a performance by African drumming band, The Nigerian Brothers.  The event was one of many to be held this week, as part of the Nothing But Nets San Francisco City Tour—the 17th city visited by the campaign.  In the three years since it began, the campaign has distributed more than 2.5 million bed nets in Africa.

Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets are one of the easiest and cost-effective methods of preventing the spread of the malaria. Bed nets prevent malaria transmission by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur. It costs just $10 to purchase and deliver a net to a refugee in need, and to educate the recipient on its proper use. 

About Nothing But Nets:
Nothing But Nets is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa. Inspired by sports columnist Rick Reilly, more than 100,000 people have joined the campaign that was created by the United Nations Foundation in 2006. Founding campaign partners include the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares, the people of The United Methodist Church, and Sports Illustrated. It costs just $10 to provide a long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed net to prevent this deadly disease. Visit www.NothingButNets.net to send a net and save a life.

Press Contact:
For media inquiries regarding the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets, contact
Negin Janati
Communications and Public Affairs
(202) 378-7858 or njanati@unfoundation.org