by Diane Denton, United Methodist Communications 

NASHVILLE – World Malaria Day is April 25.  Now and throughout April, there’s an easy new way to help eliminate malaria deaths in Africa and raise more money for nets through the Nothing But Nets malaria prevention campaign. Malaria is a serious and often fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes.  The World Health Organization estimates that 300-500 million cases of malaria occur each year.

Nothing But Nets has just launched a new online interactive game called “Deliver the Net” that makes it possible to send a net and save a life right from your keyboard.  The game teaches users about bed net distribution and challenges individuals to deliver as many virtual nets as possible before the sun goes down and malaria-carrying mosquitoes come out to bite. From now until the end of the month, each time someone plays the game and signs up at www.NothingButNets.net, generous sponsors will donate $10 for a lifesaving insecticide-treated net.

“World Malaria Day is an important reminder to get involved in the fight against malaria, a leading killer of children in Africa,” said Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Nothing But Nets spokesperson.  “This is a fun and easy way to help save lives.  We hope that all United Methodists will play the game and tell others about it.  We want to blanket Africa with bed nets.”

Every $10 raised pays for the purchase and distribution of a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net to a child under the age of five in Africa—one of whom dies every 30 seconds from malaria. Insecticide-treated bed nets are a simple and inexpensive way to protect children from the mosquitoes who carry this killer disease.

To play the game and deliver a net, go to www.NothingButNets.net.