UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)

Media Release
 

Kiwis take action to put children UNDER COVER

Wellington, 22 April 2010. – With one million people dying from malaria each year, most of them children, UNICEF NZ is asking Kiwis to get behind its UNDER COVER movement to save lives both cheaply and easily.

UNICEF NZ Executive Director, Dennis McKinlay, says that $11 – about the price of a block of cheese – is all it takes for Kiwis to make a life-saving difference to up to four children.

“We are asking Kiwis to join with UNICEF to get children under the cover of a protective bed net whether through purchasing nets at unicefundercover.org.nz or by coming up with their own initiatives. Both are simple and low cost things to do that will make a huge practical difference in the lives of children at risk from Malaria.

“The bed net, which is specially treated to increase its effectiveness, can be used by up to four children. It gives them a chance to sleep peacefully at night with a significantly decreased risk of contracting Malaria.

“What we are already seeing is that individuals and organisations around New Zealand are getting behind this movement for children.

“For example, Auckland gelato store Giapo is taking action by giving visitors to its Queen Street store this Sunday, between 3-4pm, a free gelato when they donate $10 or more to the UNDER COVER campaign.

“People can also help by adding the UNDER COVER widget to their websites, blogs and social networking pages. The widget allows people to set their own personal fundraising targets and invite others to help them raise money to combat Malaria.

“Motivated individuals and businesses can make a real, life-saving difference for children, and we encourage all Kiwis to get behind the campaign and go ‘UNDER COVER’.”

UNICEF NZ’s UNDER COVER campaign aims to provide 35,000 insecticide-treated bed nets – enough to keep up to 140,000 children safe from the scourge of Malaria. It is part of a global UNICEF drive to deliver 25m bed nets by the end of 2010. World Malaria Day on Sunday 25 April is providing a new impetus to the campaign.

A UNICEF-supported report, issued this week, points to solid progress in the battle against Malaria. Since 2000, improved Malaria control and national capacity to fight the disease has saved nearly a million lives.

Yet there is still much work that remains to be done before Malaria can be eradicated worldwide. Malaria infects up to 500m people annually and there are still around one million people dying from Malaria each year. The majority of Malaria victims are children aged under five living in sub-Saharan Africa.

“It is totally unacceptable in this day and age that a child dies every 30 seconds from Malaria. This is a preventable and treatable disease that will one day be completely stamped out through the provision of bed nets and other preventive measures.

“It is realistic to hope that by 2015 the number of Malaria cases can be reduced by three quarters and the number of preventable deaths to near zero.”

ends
 

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