Malaria is the lynchpin disease with largest immediate, concrete impact on the largest perceived problem in most communities. We can put a serious dent in the problem quickly, cheaply, efficiently, with proven methods and technologies.

Saving lives is really important. AND let's also recognize that improved quality of life, improved nutrition, disease resistance, a stronger health-care system and improved family and community economics are also vitally important.

Why Start with Nets?

Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) dispursement is of critical and timely importance.

Courtesy CDC.

Start Save the Kids with ITNs
1. Malaria is the lynchpin disease with largest immediate, concrete impact on the largest perceived problem in most communities. We can put a serious dent in the problem quickly, cheaply, efficiently, with proven methods and technologies.

2. Dealing with malaria
A. breaks a vicious cycle of poverty and diseases and
B. sets off a virtuous cycle of prosperity and health throughout the entire health care system in the subcontinent.

3. Money. Malaria control is the most cost effective economic intervention in existence for sub-Saharan Africa for every $1 invested yields well over $100 + economic impact.

4. We can do it. The Polio and Measles Initiatives have already laid the groundwork and proven the methods for immediate implementation starting in several countries targeting full completion with ITNs within 3 years.

5. Symbolically, ITNs visibly show support, hope and health is possible for communities.

The last may be the most important: Providing ITNs is a visible sign for a community, for each family, that their situation has changed. When malaria rates drop dramatically, they feel the difference physically and personally. They know their situation has changed for the better. The momentum builds.

An Insecticide Treated Nets dispursement holds greater importance than 'simply' saving a million lives per year. Nets are highly visible. Finishing it quickly, far ahead of schedule shows that Save the Kids is possible and establishes momentum. Finishing one part of the Save the Kids agenda sets in motion a 'Virtuous Cycle of Aid'.

ITNs are NOT a total solution. Nets lower malaria rates only by about 50%. Deaths go down by 25%, give or take something. Malaria is not, at this time, eradicable. Still, ITNs are a great start!

We can reduce malaria by a large amount, depending on the time, energy and especially the resources we focus on it. Add medicines to treat malaria, good case management training and some community activities to reduce mosquitoes, and you can be pretty well assured of a 50% drop in deaths as they lower the malaria rates by 60-70-80%. These estimates are based on using the cheap inputs available today.

We do not have to talk of eradication today, AND we can think about the obvious: When malaria drops by 60-80%, we might want to figure out what will take it down another 10%? And maybe, take malaria the rest of the way to zero?

As if on cue, more very low cost inputs, including several medicines, are becoming available to help with that effort, accelerating the progress. If we knew how to eradicate it now, we would have a monumental task. If we discover how to eradicate it in 3 years, we will have a massive head start through ITN distribution.