LOW TECH THAT WORKS

If your club is interested in undertaking a health-related project, consider learning more about mosquito nets. Mosquito nets provide a safe, affordable, and effective form of disease prevention. They are designed to protect individuals from disease-carrying mosquitoes by creating a barrier that these insects cannot permeate. There are several types of mosquito nets. Insecticide-treated nets, for example, not only protect the individuals who are covered but also kill mosquitoes in the process, benefiting the community at large. While mosquito nets can be used in many situations, they are generally used at night, as mosquitoes tend to be more prevalent at dawn and dusk. The duration of use for these nets varies. Some types must be treated with insecticide frequently to maintain their effectiveness; others last four to five years without needing to be retreated. Although nets can sell for as little as US$10, many people at risk for malaria and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes cannot afford these simple preventive measures. Disease prevention campaigns such as Nothing But Nets, launched by the United Nations Foundation in 2006, have raised awareness and donated millions of mosquito nets to protect at-risk communities around the world.