Today I came across two reports from two different organizations on the ground in Uganda that I thought would be of interest to readers.

The first is from Nothing But Nets and documents the distribution of malaria nets in Tetugu, a camp managed by the UN Refugee Agency, and a neighboring village. Lynda Commale, who authored the piece, concludes:

My hope is that after this observation trip, we can better understand the need for nets in the communities we visited. I cannot say this clearly enough — mosquito nets, treated with insecticide, are the best prevention against malaria.

The International Rescue Committee’s blog offers another account from Uganda on the work of the IRC to help hundreds of children and former child laborers go to school for the first time.

Joanne Offer writes about their work:

Today, Lakot attends primary school in Kitgum, thanks to a unique program run by the IRC called LEAP— Livelihoods, Education and Protection to End Child Labor. Across north and northeast Uganda, the IRC is paying the school fees of children and former child laborers, repairing school buildings, installing latrines, constructing new houses for teachers, and training teachers to become better instructors.

“Since the IRC started helping us, school enrollment has gone up,” said Nadutuka Daniela, the head teacher at the Loodoi Primary school in the district of Moroto. “The IRC is paying fees and has given materials—books and uniforms—that parents can’t afford. People are so happy about it.”

Each piece is definitely worth a read.

Remember to tune in to the season premiere of “Ugly Betty” tonight at 8 PM EST on ABC. The episode will feature Nothing But Nets and a plot-line involving the eradication of malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Here’s a short interview with America Ferrera on this morning’s Good Morning America discussing the season premiere and Nothing But Nets. You can learn more about the episodehere.

Then definitely be sure to tune in for its season premiere next Friday, October 16th.

Officially becoming the first comedy to be shot in the UN’s New York City headquarters, the episode will reportedly feature the UN’s “Nothing But Nets” initiative in a plot that touches on the importance of mosquito nets in fighting malaria.

You can check out a promotional video about Nothing But Nets starring cast member Daniel Eric Gold here.

UPDATE: Nothing But Nets just posted more details about the episode here.

A feature story on the front page of the New York Times today highlights the success of $10 malaria bednet campaigns.

“Donating $10 to buy a mosquito net to save an African child from malaria has become a hip way to show you care, especially for teenagers. The movement is like a modern version of the March of Dimes, created in 1938 to defeat polio, or like collecting pennies for Unicef on Halloween….

Part of what has helped the campaign catch on is its sheer simplicity and affordability — $10 buys one net to save a child. Nothing But Nets, the best-known campaign, has raised $20 million from 70,000 individuals, most of it in donations averaging $60.

That is a small fraction of the overall need, which experts estimate at $2.5 billion. But it gives the effort a populist edge, and participation is psychologically rewarding for anyone whose philanthropic pockets are shallower than those of Bill Gates.”

You may know that malaria kills more than a million people (not just children – people) a year –every 30 seconds a child in African dies – and costs African economies over $12 billion.
 
But there is a simple solution to this large problem – an insecticide-treated net. $10 covers the cost to purchase and distribute the net and educate on its use, and for a limited time, a generous sponsor of Nothing But Nets will send a bed net on your behalf when you sign up! Saving lives has never been easier.  
 
To commemorate World Malaria Day on April 25th, we’ve created an interactive online game, Deliver the Net, www.NothingButNets.net/game that let’s you experience the distribution of bed nets and some of the obstacles we face on the ground.
 
Through the UN Foundation and our Nothing But Nets campaign we’ve already helped cover seven African nations, including Zimbabwe and Mali, and we have our sights set on more. 
 
I hope you enjoy the game!

 
-Shannon Raybold, United Nations Foundation