WNBA Star Ruth Riley Joins the UN Foundation and Nothing But Nets in Distributing 133,000 Nets
Published on December 12, 2007 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
Washington, DC (December 12, 2007) - The Women's National Basketball Association and Nothing But Nets- a global, grassroots campaign to prevent malaria-announced today that San Antonio Silver Stars Center Ruth Riley will travel to Mali, Africa as part of a United Nations Foundation and Nothing But Nets delegation to observe the distribution of over two million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets to children and their families. Nothing But Nets campaign supporters funded 133,000 of the bed nets being distributed December 13-19, 2007 as part of the largest integrated health campaign in Mali, where malaria is a leading cause of death for children under five. By the end of the integrated health campaign, all children under five will be protected by an insecticide-treated net.
"Whether you are an athlete, a CEO, a volunteer, a student or a teacher, we all have resources that we can utilize to help make a difference in this world," said Riley, two-time WNBA champion, 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, and national spokesperson for Nothing But Nets. "By mobilizing all of our resources and support, we can help to make a significant impact on the lives of children."
The integrated health campaign is being organized and implemented by the Malian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Measles Initiative and other international partners. As part of this integrated health campaign, over 2.8 million children under the age of five will also receive vaccinations against polio and measles, Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming medication.
While in Mali, Riley will participate in activities aimed at educating local youth on malaria prevention and healthy living habits. On December 15, 2007 in Bamako, the U.S. Embassy in Mali, the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets, the WNBA, MLS W.O.R.K.S., and the Mali women's national basketball team will co-host basketball and soccer sports clinics for close to 120 young Malian boys and girls age 12-16. Riley will be joined by members of the first-ever Malian women's Olympic team to teach girls basketball skills while sharing valuable information on ways to prevent malaria and other childhood diseases.
Every 30 seconds an African child dies from a malaria infection transmitted by a mosquito bite, and every day 25 million pregnant African women risk severe illness and harm to their unborn children from a malaria infection. However, insecticide-treated nets, like the ones purchased through Nothing But Nets can protect a family of four against malaria for up to four years.
Nothing But Nets, a project of the United Nations Foundation, is a global, grassroots campaign to save lives by delivering long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets to those most in need. A $10 donation covers the cost to purchase and distribute a bed net and educate the recipient on its proper use.
To date, the Campaign has engaged more than 60,000 individuals, raised more than US$16 million and will have distributed more than to 700,000 nets by the end of 2007. With the money raised for Nothing But Nets, the UN Foundation and the campaign's partners work with the Measles Initiative - led by the American Red Cross, UNICEF, the United Nations Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.
Key partners contributing to the integrated health campaign in Mali include: ∙Governmental & Intergovernmental Organizations: Mali Red Cross and Canadian Red Cross (CRM/CRC), World Health Organization (OMS/Mali), International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNICEF, The American Red Cross, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF/Mali, Ministry of Social Development, Solidarity and the Elderly, The Assistance Technique Nationale/USAID (ATN), The Network of Traditional Communicators (RECOTRADE), National Federation of Community Health Associations (FENASCOM), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), USAID/Mali, and The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), among others.
∙Non-governmental Organizations: United Nations Foundation, Helen Keller International (HKI), Groupe Pivot Santé Population (GPSP), Population Services International (PSI)
∙Corporations: ExxonMobil, Vestergaard Frandsen
∙Health Campaigns & Initiatives: The Measles Initiative, The President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), Malaria No More, Nothing But Nets, Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM), Micronutrient Initiative (MI/HKI and UNICEF)
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