Singer, songwriter, and actress Mandy Moore announced today she is joining the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign to respond to an urgent need for life-saving, anti-malaria bed nets in the Central African Republic — where a child dies every 30 seconds from malaria.
Moore, an Ambassador for Population Services International, is partnering with Nothing But Nets and its UN partners to deliver bed nets to each family in the country who needs one, by the end of this year.
“Malaria is preventable, yet it continues to kill nearly one million people every year,” said Mandy Moore, who has seen the effects of malaria in Africa firsthand. “Insecticide-treated bed nets are one of easiest ways to protect families from malaria-carrying mosquitoes. I’m proud to be part of this initiative to send nets and save lives, and am hopeful we can reach this goal for the Central African Republic.”
Nothing But Nets, a global, grassroots campaign to end malaria in Africa, has helped distribute more than 3 million long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets in 15 countries across Africa. With the help of Moore and PSI, covering the Central African Republic with bed nets will be a key step toward the global goal of ending malaria deaths by 2015.
“People need to know that malaria, a disease that has existed for centuries and killed millions, can be stopped within the next five years,” said Adrianna Logalbo, Director of Nothing But Nets. “Mandy Moore’s voice, and the global reach of social media, is helping spread the buzz about the urgency of stopping this preventable disease.”
Moore has been active in the fight against malaria since she saw its impact firsthand in South Sudan last year, on a trip to distribute nets with PSI—an experience that inspired her to raise awareness to end malaria deaths. “I’d like to invite my fans to join me for a live discussion on August 12 at 2:00 p.m. [ET] to learn more and find out how they can help. I’m eager to spread the word about this deadly disease and its simple solution—just $10 to send a life-saving bed net.”
Moore will join experts from Nothing But Nets and PSI for a “Town Hall” on malaria in Africa, broadcast live on Facebook, to speak more about the emergency appeal for nets in the Central African Republic and what Americans can do to help. To learn more, please visit www.NothingButNets.net.
