Celebrities join Save the Children on the first international World Malaria Day this Friday 25th April to show how something as simple as a mosquito net can help save a child's life.
Wednesday 23 April 2008
In Africa, malaria - a preventable and treatable disease - is a leading cause of death for children.
Each year, around the world, there are an estimated 350-500 million cases of malaria, resulting in 1-3 million deaths; the vast majority of these are among children under five and 90% of children who die from malaria live in sub-Saharan Africa.
World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day replaces "Africa Malaria Day" which has been commemorated every year since 2001 on 25th April.
It's simple to save a life - sleeping under a mosquito net dipped in insecticide can help stop a child being bitten by a mosquito and catching malaria.
Save the Children has created a way for people in the UK to help save a child's life wherever they are - simply by sending a text.
When someone texts NET to 81819, at a cost of just £5, Save the Children promises to deliver a mosquito net to a family at risk of catching malaria.
Saving Children's Lives
Save the Children recently launched its biggest ever three year global campaign, which aims to reduce the number of children around the world who die before their fifth birthday.
The latest report by the children's charity sets out the reasons why nearly 10 million children are dying needlessly every year, and the simple solutions that could save most of those lives.
The report says that poverty and inequality are underlying causes of child deaths and that all governments, even the poorest, can cut child mortality if they pursue the right policies and prioritise the poorest families.
The global goal to cut child mortality is woefully off track. In order to tackle this, Save the Children wants 10 million people around the world to take action by 2010 for the 10 million children who die every year.
Save the Children's celebrity supporters
Save the Children's including Davina McCall, Fran Healey, some of the cast members from Afrika Afrika and Mariella Frostrup, posed with mosquito nets in a recent photoshoot to highlight the devastating effects of malaria - and how a simple solution like a net can change this.
Other participants said:
TV presenter Carrie and David Grant:
David: "Malaria kills millions of children every year. We are supporting Save the Children's campaign because we want to show that something as simple as a mosquito net can save these children's lives."
Carrie: "My Father lived in Sierra Leone and died there of malaria so I know only too well the impact this campaign can have."
One Show hosts, Adrian Chiles & Christine Bleakley:
"Almost 10 million children under the age of 5 die every year. That's a coach load of children every three minutes. The majority of these deaths are preventable. A £5 mosquito net will stop a child catching malaria. We're supporting Save the Children's campaign to save children's lives. Take action today! It's only a fiver."
Shameless star David Threlfall who recently visited Ethiopia with Save the Children:
"Millions of children die every year because the poorest and most neglected children are being left out. Every single death is an unbearable loss. We can and must stop this senseless waste. It's simple to save a child's life; we just need to act. Just £5 can buy a mosquito net to save a child from the risk of malaria."