A Huge Health Campaign in Mali

The Health Campaign that is about to start here in Mali is huge and historic. In addition to the Malaria Nets that are being distributed, this is actually one of the largest health campaigns aimed at infants in Africa.

Starting in 2 days, every child in Mali under the age of 5 will be the focus of a major campaign that will provide Polio, DeWorming, Vitamin A as well as the Nets. In other words, the campaign will bring comprehensive interventions to every child under the age of 5.

Today, we met our delegation, which is one of dozens of organizations that are supporting this campaign. The donation from our Learning Gives Back efforts at Learning 2007, are part of the Malaria No More component. There are also significant contributions from the Canada Red Cross, the President's Malaria Initiative as well as many others.

Our delegation is great, including Muslin religious leaders from the US, professional soccer and Women's professional basketball.

Landed In Mali

On Monday night, after flights from New York to France to Mali, we landed in Africa.

We were met on the tarmac of the Bamako airport, as the members of the delegations gathered from diverse parts of the world.

There is great excitement about this "Integrated Distribution" that will be distributing the Malaria nets, as well as Measles and other vaccines. There are representatives from the UN, the UN Foundation, Canadian Red Cross, Peace Corps and other agencies.

Daughter of Malcolm X on Trip

Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, is joining us on the mission to Mali. She and several other Muslin community leaders will be part of the international delegation.

"I'm thrilled to work with Malaria No More to alert Americans to the malaria crisis ravaging Africa," said Ms. Shabazz. "That I have a family connection to Mali only makes the problem that much more personal."

Ms. Shabazz has committed her life to exploring her family's legacy and
empowering youth. She is author of "Growing Up X".

What is a Bed Net? Prevention for $10!

During this trip, more than a million Bed Nets will be distributed in Mali. Here is an explanation about the Bed Net:

"Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) work by creating a protective barrier against mosquitoes at night, when the vast majority of transmissions occur. The African malaria mosquitoes generally bite late at night or early morning, between 10pm and 4am. Most mosquito nets can accommodate more than one person – a mother and an infant or a few siblings – for up to three to five years. A net treated with special insecticides offers about twice the protection of an untreated net, and through its repellency, can even protect other people in the room outside the net. When enough people (about 70 percent) sleep under LLINs, entire communities, even houses without an LLIN, can be made safer."

Questions from Skidmore Students about Mali/Malara

10 Questions from Students at Skidmore College about Mali and Malaria... 

5,000 Mosquito Nets from Learning Field

It all started with Melinda Doolittle, our favorite Idol, and the generosity of thousands of learning professionals.

At Learning 2007, we donated and collected over $50,000 to buy Mosquito Nets for the Malaria No More Project.

Cathy and Elliott Masie are seen here, along with Melinda and Scott Case, as this contribution was made.

But, this is just a beginning in the Learning Gives Back Project. The next step is our journey to Africa on December 10th, to be part of a massive distribution of Mosquito Nets and other health projects in the country of Mali.

We are honored to represent the Learning field on this mission and will be going with a range of other governmental officials and religious leaders. We will be meeting with the President of Mali and visiting villages where these nets will be distributed ... to save lives!

We encourage you to be part of this virtual trip with us. Follow-along on this blog, leave your comments and of course, we would love to have you contribute $10 or more, to buy a Mosquito Nets. Together, we can all make a difference!