Bed nets do double duty

At Nothing But Nets, we talk a lot about malaria awareness and prevention through bed nets. You know that the disease is caused by mosquitoes carrying a parasite, but did you know that malaria is also hugely connected to HIV and AIDS infection rates? More than 4 million people a year die from these diseases combined – this link is an important public health concern worldwide.

The combination of malaria and AIDS is deadly, but especially for pregnant women and children. Babies born to women with both diseases have an almost 74% risk of death. Extreme poverty, limited access to treatment, and poor education are all factors in co-infection of these diseases.

This week, the International AIDS Conference is taking place in Mexico City to discuss new research and progress in global response for this major health issue. In conjunction with this, Voices for a Malaria-Free Future has created a petition calling for action by ministries of health, international donor countries and development agencies to honor past and present pledges and commitments to implement global malaria programming and treatment. Nothing But Nets supports this call to action, because we believe it’s important to acknowledge the deadly impact on so many lives around the world from AIDS and malaria. If you’re interested, you can show your support here.

Check out more information on co-infection of malaria and HIV/AIDS.