Our first step toward this goal is to achieve a 30-fold increase in the number of treated nets available and in use over the next five years. After consulting with a wide range of partners and bednet experts, we believe that this goal is possible. Children living in malaria endemic parts of the world have a right to be protected from the potentially fatal bites of mosquitoes. While it is uncertain how many African households have and use bednets the number is likely to be as low as two million. This low availability is alarming.
Evidence shows that treated nets can cut malaria deaths by nearly a quarter.
A recent review of bednet studies conducted by the UK-based Cochrane Collaboration found that those children who slept under treated bednets were 50 percent less likely to develop malaria illness, compared to control groups. The nets were treated in synthetic pyrethroids, a substance derived from a plant common in East Africa that is safe for humans and environmentally-friendly. Commercial marketing strategies are also expected to play a major role in increasing the availability, usage and retreatment of bednets. Development agencies are stepping forward to rapidly expand the availability of bednets. An essential part of reducing poverty in Africa involves protecting the health of families so they can be self-sufficient.