Bite Back

When we were in Kampala back in February, we visited an AIDS hospital that is funded in part by Compassion. After a short information session about the work the hospital does, our guide (his name was Damon, and he was seventeen different kinds of BONAFIDE AWESOME) escorted us to a lovely outdoor cafeteria so we could visit with some of the hospital staff.

Shaw-awn and I sat next to one of the hospital’s doctors, and after a few minutes of pleasantries, I asked him if it was frustrating to be a physician in Uganda. Much to my surprise, his eyes filled with tears. And he nodded.

“It’s tough,” he said, “because our children die from preventable diseases. AIDS is preventable. Malaria is preventable. But our people don’t have access to medicine. They don’t have access to mosquito nets. Mosquito nets are so inexpensive, and they can save children’s lives. But there aren’t enough to go around.”

I looked at Shaun, then looked at Spence, and I said, “Is there something we can do about that? Is there something Compassion can do about that?”

“Absolutely,” Spence said. “We’re working on something right now.”

And that something is called Bite Back.

This Friday, April 25, is World Malaria Day. And through the Bite Back campaign, people can give a one-time donation of $10 and provide a mosquito net for a child – or a family, if they’re all sleeping in the same place – who otherwise would have no protection from this completely preventable disease. That $10 will also provide education and treatment for people who are already sick with malaria.

My sweet friend Anne has challenged her readers to donate 50 nets in 50 hours. And I’m totally going to follow her lead here at BooMama: The Blawg. Remember, this is a one-time donation, not a long-term commitment.

So here’s how you can help.

Click here to donate $10 that will provide a mosquito net for a child (you can donate more than that if you feel led). Each net lasts three years, so for $3.33 a year – less than a penny a day – you can save a child’s life.

And if you just can’t spare $10 right now but still want to help, then link to this post from your blog. Help to get the word out and encourage your readers to give. Here’s the banner code.

<a href="http://boomama.net/2008/04/23/bite-back/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/boomama205/biteback-1.jpg" border="0" alt="BiteBack"></a>

Here’s a smaller button if you’d rather have that for your sidebar.

<a href="http://boomama.net/2008/04/23/bite-back/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h134/boomama205/logo.jpg" border="0" alt="BiteBack"></a>

And whether you donate or you link, please come back here and leave a comment so that I can thank you on behalf of the sweet children you’re helping. All you have to say is “I’m in.”

However, you’re certainly welcome to say more than that. Because, after all, I’m not very strong with the brevity.

50 nets in 50 hours. WE CAN TOTALLY DO THIS.

I’ll close comments at 9 pm central Friday night.

Thanks so much, y’all.

Comments are now closed – thank you SO MUCH!