Do you know the mosquito is a serious killer? Back in April GatesNotes posted an infograph showing the number of deaths from various creatures:
According to these numbers, the mosquito kills more than all the others combined! Recently in the Daily Nation an article stated “one child dies from the disease (malaria) every minute.” This is why we are so adamant on making sure the kids not only have mosquito nets but are actually using them correctly.
Now some of you may be ready to write me with the contact information on this organization or that organization which offers free mosquito nets. Please do but let me give you an account regarding these “free” nets.
Our good friend and project manager, Bosco, found out first hand how free these free nets are. His wife, Ann, went to a location where the free nets were being distributed. She got there in the morning, waited 6 hours and when she was finally let in they told her all the nets were gone but then she saw the same donated nets being sold nearby for 200/= ksh each.
I pray there are some out there who are receiving these free nets, but for us we continue to pay for them.
Another example of “free stuff” in Kenya…a few years ago we purchased maize…on the bag it read “not for sale, donated by the United States of America.” And this is where I heave a sign of frustration and move along.