April 25 marks World Malaria Day, when international Malaria activists commemorate a global commitment to delivering “protection and treatment to all people at risk of Malaria” by 2010, according to the World Health Organizaiton’s Roll Back Malaria Program.
True to the event’s name, most of the world is involved. The usual suspects like the White House, health organizations, and the United Nations have made their public commitments, while Hollywood is getting repped by Twitter’s main million-followers man, Ashton Kutcher. Demi’s hubby (aka @aplusk), has donated 10,000 bed nets to celebrate his Twitter stardom. Or is that Twitterdom? Good on ya, Ashton.
This year’s World Malaria Day focuses on “Counting Malaria Out.” In other words, activists are looking to quantify the progress on the fight against malaria.
Before you go help with the fight, we answer a few World Malaria Day questions for you.
What is malaria?
Malaria is a mosquito-born disease that causes one million deaths a year, even though the disease is preventable.
How is malaria prevented?
Since malaria is caused by parasites transmitted by mosquito bites, stopping a mosquito’s chance of transmitting the parasite can prevent the disease. In other words: Keep the bugs away from humans. Bed nets and insecticides are great tools in this effort. In fact, donations for dispersal of bed nets, insecticides, and antimalarial drugs have been incredibly useful in the effort to end malaria deaths.
What’s up with those T-shirts you mentioned?
Since November 2007, Tonic has been doing its part to eradicate malaria buy selling the Tonic Net Tee. Every time someone buys the Tonic Net Tee, Tonic donates a portion of the revenue to support distribution of bed nets through Against Malaria.
