United to Beat Malaria, previously known as Nothing But Nets until 2022,[1][2] is a global, grassroots campaign of the United Nations Foundation to raise awareness and funding to fight malaria.[3]
 | |
| Formation | established in 2006 |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Preventing malaria, malaria awareness, mosquito bed net distribution |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Location | |
Region served | Africa and Caribbean |
| Website | beatmalaria |
The campaign aims to prevent malaria infections and deaths by providing malaria education, insecticide-treated bed nets, anti-malarial drugs, diagnostics, and other interventions to vulnerable and remote communities in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.[4]
The organization's fundraising campaigns have seen wide popularity and success in the United States, especially among youth, with athletes, sports leagues, religious organizations and universities participating in large-scale campaigns.[5][6]
History
editThe organization started in 2006 after sportswriter Rick Reilly saw a documentary on malaria while visiting Venice. In April of 2006, Reilly wrote a column entitled "Nothing But Nets" in Sports Illustrated, where he challenged his readers to donate at least $10 for the purchase of anti-malaria bed nets.[7][8]
Reilly also searched for an organization to help him distribute the nets, and contacted the United Nations Foundation. Reilly convinced the foundation to start a new organization named "Nothing But Nets" to appeal to sports fans.[5] Within days of launching, the organization raised US$1.6 million and gained sponsorship by Major League Soccer and the National Basketball Association.
In 2012, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry partnered with the campaign, gaining significant publicity with a "3 for 3" pledge, in which he promised to donate 3 bed nets for every 3 pointer he scored.[9][10] Curry continued working with the campaign until 2017.[11] In 2018, Curry also released a limited edition shoe in partnership with sportswear company Under Armor, with profits from the shoe going toward the organization.[12]
As the organization continued to grow, its efforts expanded beyond bed net distribution to encompass other efforts to fight malaria, and in 2022, the organization changed its name to "United to Beat Malaria."[13]
Activities
editUnited to Beat Malaria's initial focus was solely on fundraising and distributing anti-malaria bed nets, but as the campaign continued, its activities expanded to include other activities, including:
- malaria education among the general public and populations vulnerable to malaria.[14]
- advocacy for anti-malaria action.[15]
- preventative medications for pregnant women.[16]
- diagnostic testing.[4]
- providing indoor residual spraying (IRS) to protect homes from mosquitoes.[17]
- providing post-exposure medication.[4]
- training and equipping community health workers.[18]
As of 2023, United to Beat Malaria had distributed aid to more than 40 million people in 61 countries.[19][20]
Partnerships
editUnited to Beat Malaria has partnered with a wide range of groups, both for fundraising and outreach and for delivering assistance to communities affected by malaria.
For funding campaigns, partners have included organizations such as the National Basketball Association’s NBA Cares,[21] Major League Soccer WORKS, the people of the United Methodist Church,[22] Sports Illustrated,[4][23] Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Boy Scouts of America.[24]
Celebrity partners that have assisted with fundraising include Rick Reilly, Stephen Curry, singer and actress Mandy Moore,[25] WNBA champion Ruth Riley, and broadcaster Charlie Webster.[26]
To deliver assistance to malaria-affected populations, the organization has partnered with corporations, including SC Johnson[27] and Sumitomo Chemical[28] to provide malaria prevention tools. The organization also works with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, UNHCR, and The Global Fund, among others, to deliver anti-malaria assistance.[29]
Events
editUnited to Beat Malaria hosts an annual leadership summit in Washington, D.C. The purpose of the summit is to help participants develop leadership skills in fields of advocacy, policy, global health, and civics relating to the campaigns against malaria.[30][31]
At the summit, advocates from across the US called "champions" meet with members of Congress to discuss malaria advocacy and education.[32]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ McDonnell, Margaret (14 March 2022). "A New Era of Nothing But Nets: United to Beat Malaria".
- ^ United to Beat Malaria (10 March 2022). "A New Era of Nothing But Nets: United to Beat Malaria".
- ^ "Malaria takes center-stage as Disney's The Lion King and the Nederlander Organization Join the Fight Against Malaria". unfoundation.org. 2011-11-09. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
- ^ a b c d "A call to support 'United to Beat Malaria'". Pest Management Professional. 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ a b Jr, Donald G. McNeil (2008-06-02). "A $10 Mosquito Net Is Making Charity Cool". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Mullets Against Malaria // St. Edward's Hall // University of Notre Dame". St. Edwards Hall. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Reilly, Rick (2006). "Nothing But Nets". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2006.
- ^ Greeley, Patrick (2017-08-14). "Nothing but Nets: Saving Children in Africa from Malaria". BORGEN. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Stephen Curry Continues Three For Three Challenge Benefiting Nothing But Nets For 2013-14 Season – United to Beat Malaria". Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Warriors Guard Stephen Curry Continues "Three for Three Challenge" Benefiting Nothing But Nets for 2015-16 Season". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Curry to Continue "Three For Three Challenge" Benefitting Nothing But Nets". www.nba.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Under Armour's Curry 4 Low "Nothing But Nets" Will Support the Fight Against Malaria". Hypebeast. 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "A New Era of Nothing But Nets: United to Beat Malaria". unfoundation.org. 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Haiti proves resilient on path to zero malaria". UNDP. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Advocacy – United to Beat Malaria". Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Progress Towards Gender Equality Rests on the Fight to End Malaria for Good – United to Beat Malaria". Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Transforming Communities - Envu Innovations for Healthier Spaces and People". www.envu.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ June 2024, Devex Partnerships // 10 (2024-06-10). "New partner initiative launched to protect refugee children's health". Devex. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Haiti proves resilient on path to zero malaria". UNDP. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Gradl, Christina (2013). Sumitomo Chemical and the Fight Against Malaria Using Bednets. Harvard Kennedy School Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative.
- ^ Golden State Warriors (25 February 2015). "Warriors to Host Nothing But Nets Day March 8 to Fight Malaria". NBA.com.
- ^ "'Nothing But Nets' Campaign to be Launched November 14 – The United Methodist Church". The United Methodist Church. 14 November 2006. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017.
- ^ "Nothing But Nets Campaign". Nothingbutnets.net. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ "Nothing But Nets Partners". Nothingbutnets.net. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
- ^ "Singer-songwriter and Actress Mandy Moore Distributes Life-Saving Nets in the Central African Republic". unfoundation.org. 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "From Sickness to Advocacy: My Story – United to Beat Malaria". Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "SC Johnson and the United Nations Foundation's Beat Malaria Campaign Join Forces to Eradicate Malaria in the African Great Lakes Region". www.scjohnson.com. 2022-06-19. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Our Members". The Tent Partnership for Refugees. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Global Health Partners – United to Beat Malaria". Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "2023 Leadership Summit: United to Beat Malaria". unfoundation.org. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "EBC Financial Group Partners with United to Beat Malaria, a Campaign of the United Nations Foundation, to Protect Vulnerable Children and Their Families from Malaria". Yahoo Finance. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Champions – United to Beat Malaria". Retrieved 2024-08-30.