9 ms·
Giving out mosquito nets to conquer malaria makes as much sense as giving out medical masks to conquer the flu. 77% of maleria deaths are kids under 5 accordin
by walsh-cloonagh 11y ago
Giving out mosquito nets to conquer malaria makes as much sense as giving out medical masks to conquer the flu.
77% of maleria deaths are kids under 5 according to the WHO [1]. They're giving out mosquito nets to prevent children from dying of malaria.
But we don't live with malaria, so feel-good gestures are as far as we go.
For every 322 children under 5 protected by nets, one survives who would otherwise die [2]. This isn't the right thing to be cynical about.
[1] http://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/ http://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/
[2] http://www.givewell.org/files/DWDA%202009/Interventions/Nets/GiveWell%20cost-effectiveness%20analysis%20of%20LLIN%20distribution%202014.xls http://www.givewell.org/files/DWDA%202009/Interventions/Nets...