“Every day 30,000 children die from a combination of disease- infested water and malnutrition. Water-borne diseases are claiming one child every three seconds. These diseases are the major killers of small children in Africa.” (Source: Cozay.com)

Poverty is something that we’ve all experienced to some extent. Whether we ourselves have faced extremely hard times, or we’ve passed homeless people on the streets or panderers looking for food and money, we have all had some brush with poverty.

Nowhere in the world is poverty more rampant than in the countries within Africa, and there is no place on any other continent where the effects of poverty can be so clearly seen — especially in children.

Millions of children go hungry every day in Africa. Thousands die every day from diseases like AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, tapeworm, dysentery, and even polio. Because not only the people are poor, but the countries themselves are as well, these countries do not have the industrialization that we do to provide the people with food, clothes, shelter, clean water, and medical treatment such as vaccinations.

Malaria kills more children every day in Africa than any other malady. That’s why, today, I’d like to point everyone to the charity organization Nothing But Nets. Nothing But Nets provides protective nets to go over the beds of children all over Africa; these nets keep mosquitoes away from sleeping children and help prevent the spread of Malaria. Just $10 donated to Nothing But Nets buys one net — including installation. As of the writing of this blog entry, over 2 million nets have been bought for needy children in Africa. Not only that, but the nets are distributed through The Measles Initiative — a partner of the Red Cross that gives measles vaccinations to children in Africa. So, through this partnership, not only are children vaccinated to prevent the outbreak and spread of the measles, but they are more safe and protected from being infected with Malaria.

What is $10? $10 is a good book; it’s two drinks from Starbucks; it’s a discounted DVD; it’s lunch at a fast food restaurant. If you can afford any of these things on a daily basis, then you can afford to buy a net and save a child’s life. There are many effects of poverty, including the spread of disease, but through charity, even one person can make a difference. Will you be that one person today?