By Diane Denton*
July 17, 2007 | CHICAGO (UMNS)

Warning that malaria could kill thousands of refugees in Chad as the African nation's rainy season begins, the United Nations Foundation launched an emergency fundraising appeal July 16 to purchase 40,000 insecticide-treated sleeping nets.

The foundation called on Americans to help raise $400,000 to respond to the immediate need of people living in 15 refugee camps along Chad's eastern border with Sudan and its southern border with the Central African Republic.

Children are particularly at risk among the more than 200,000 refugees displaced by spreading violence in the Darfur region of Sudan. U.N. officials estimate that 25 percent of children under age 5 living in the camps will die from malaria without protection at night, when mosquito-borne malaria is usually transmitted.

The money is being raised through Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign to distribute the life-saving nets. The people of The United Methodist Church are among the founding partners of the 2006 initiative, which urges people to "send a net, save a life" for the cost of $10 per net.

Immediate need

Speaking at a news conference to launch the campaign, organizers said the prevalence of malaria in refugee camps is expected to rise sharply with the start of the region's rainy season in June.

"A donation of 10 dollars is all it takes to purchase and distribute a life-saving net and educate a community health worker on its proper use."

Assistance is being sought from relief organizations working together in Chad, including UNICEF, the U.N. High Commission on Refugees and the MENTOR Initiative. Responding to an emergency request from the United Nations, the U.N. Foundation pledged to raise $400,000 to purchase, ship and distribute the nets.

Also attending the news conference were representatives from several Nothing But Nets partner organizations, including the NBA's Chicago Bulls, a local partner.

"We need about 40,000 bed nets for 15 temporary camps in Chad right now," said Bulls forward Luol Deng, a native of Sudan and a national spokesman for Nothing But Nets. "One of every four children would die in the rainy season without nets. I'm personally committed to this issue and supporting the appeal, and I'm proud to say my team, the Chicago Bulls, has taken this issue to heart."

Steve Schanwald, executive vice president for business operations for the Bulls organization, presented the foundation with a check for $10,000 to purchase the first 1,000 bed nets and pledged to mobilize basketball fans to help.

Humanity United, a U.S.-based social investment organization, has agreed to match donations dollar for dollar and net for net for the Chad effort, according to Elizabeth McKee, director of Nothing But Nets.

McKee said the MENTOR Initiative, a United Kingdom-based emergency agency fighting malaria, is working quickly to begin distributing about 1,000 per day. Each net can safely cover five people if used properly, she said.

Calling on United Methodists

Following the news conference, United Methodist Bishop Thomas Bickerton urged the church to respond generously to the emergency.

Bickerton praised the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), which has supported efforts to help displaced Sudanese in Chad since 2004 through its partnership with Action by Churches Together (ACT), an international aid alliance.

Earlier this month, UMCOR responded to a new ACT appeal with a grant that will go toward health services, wells, community services and shelter for 35,000 of the most vulnerable people living in camps along the Chad-Sudan border.

UMCOR expects to provide additional assistance in the near future, according to spokeswoman Linda Beher.

The foundation's emergency appeal came during a series of Nothing But Nets events this month in Chicago as part of a U.S. multi-city tour to raise money and awareness for malaria prevention. The Chicago events involve the people of The United Methodist Church, the Chicago Bulls, the WNBA's Chicago Sky, the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, MLS W.O.R.K.S., the U.N. Foundation and the Luol Deng Foundation.

Interfaith breakfast

More than 100 Chicago-area faith leaders attended a July 17 interfaith breakfast hosted by First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. Together, they prayed for victims of malaria and talked about opportunities to support Nothing But Nets.

United Methodist Bishop Hee-soo Jung of the Chicago area told the group he plans to fast one meal a day for 100 days in behalf of the campaign. He pledged $10 for every meal he skips.

Others shared personal testimonies about the deadly disease.

"I grew up as a missionary child in Nigeria where malaria is as common as a cold," said the Rev. Karen Hundrieser, pastor of Worth (Ill.) United Methodist Church. "I had it so bad once that, 35 years later, I still remember the pain and thinking I wasn't going to make it through the night."

Hundrieser's church is getting pledges of $10 for a net for every $100 donated to its building repair program. "To date, we've raised enough for 45 nets," she said.

"One of the things that motivates me as a youth is when people say, 'You're just a child, you can't do that.' The fact is, with Nothing But Nets, $10 can save a life," Kim said.

Chicago Fire star Diego Gutierrez told those at the breakfast that living in a global community "has a lot of perks but also a lot of responsibility." He reminded the group that all children are important, whether they live in Europe, the United States or Africa. "We have to live in a place where children don't die just because of where they're born geographically," he said.

Malaria 'boot camp'

At a July 16 malaria "boot camp" sponsored by Nothing But Nets, players from the Bulls, the Fire and the Sky helped educate local youth about malaria and how they can spread awareness, involve others and raise money.

Speaking to the 250 youth ages 8 to 17, Bickerton reminded the crowd that "nets save kids' lives!"

"Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria," Bickerton said. "I think most of you in this room have a good chance of living a long, sustained life. Don't those kids in Africa deserve the same chance? Ten dollars and a kid's life has changed."

At the conclusion of his remarks, Bickerton pointed out that perhaps 15 children had died during his brief presentation. "We'd better get busy, don't you think?"

Clarice Woods and Laura McIntee took a day off from work to bring eight youth from Chicago's St. Matthew United Methodist Church. McIntee said she learned about the campaign from the United Methodist Web site at www.UMC.org. The church's youth group plans to hold a car wash and bake sale to help.

Vanessa Mendenhall, 15, was among 19 youth that came from Ivanhoe United Methodist Church in Riverdale, Ill. "I learned about malaria and how many people it affects, how many people care about it, and what we can do to help," she said. "I want to see if we could help bring more people to raise money and make more people aware."

Since May 2006, the Nothing But Nets campaign has raised more than $7 million. The average donation is about $60. To donate, visit www.NothingButNets.net or www.umc.org/nets.

*Denton is director of public information for The United Methodist Church.

News media contact: Marta Aldrich, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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