The Problem Malaria is a widespread and deadly disease concentrated in equatorial regions--primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, where ninety percent of malaria-related deaths occur. Each year, 200 million people become infected with malaria. Of those cases, the disease will prove fatal for 438,000 people. Seventy percent of these deaths are of children under five years old, making malaria one of the leading causes of child mortality in Africa. Even when non-fatal, malaria can damage children’s cognitive development. In many developing countries, malaria is the leading cause of death for pregnant women.
The Solution Long-lasting insecticidal bed nets. The disease is spread by mosquitoes at night, while people are sleeping.The best way to prevent this is to use long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs): Hung over beds, these nets are extremely effective at killing the insects and preventing infection. Studies show that mosquito nets, when properly used, are still more effective at preventing malaria transmission than experimental vaccines. With a series of effective distributions over the course of a decade, malaria can be brought under control and infection rates kept low long-term.
How AMF is different from other charities AMF funds bednets and ensures that they are distributed and used by those who are most vulnerable to malaria infection. Unlike traditional net distributors, AMF actively monitors bednet use to ensure the nets are used properly, including being placed where they need to be--over heads and over beds. Without proper monitoring, bednets distributed by traditional methods are often misused for a variety of other purposes. In 2014, AMF introduced smartphone technology to make monitoring even more cost-effective by reducing paperwork and streamlining tracking.
How will AMF use my donation? One hundred percent of public donations are used to buy nets. AMF's minimal administrative costs are covered by a small group of private donors while distribution costs are covered by partners on the ground.
How do I know AMF recipients will use the nets properly? Net distributions are accompanied by malaria education programs delivered by local health leaders, including information on effective net use. Follow-up surveys consistently show this education to be effective: for example, six months after a distribution in Ntcheu District, Malawi, over 90 percent of nets were still being used properly, with 99 percent still in very good condition.
Don’t mosquitoes just strike during the day instead? The overwhelming majority of malaria-carrying mosquitoes bite people at night, typically between 10 PM and 2 AM.
Can’t we just treat infected people instead? Treatment can be very effective, but it is difficult to provide consistently to rural regions of developing countries. Nearly half a million people still die from malaria each year.
Won’t there be a malaria vaccine soon? Studies show promising results from an experimental malaria vaccine, but malaria nets are still the most effective means of preventing malaria transmission.
Is my donation tax-deductible? AMF is based in the UK, where donors can claim Gift Aid on their donations. Donations are also tax-deductible in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, and the USA. See further information about AMF's charity-status in these countries.