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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

According to the United Nations, every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria.

That fact torments Sandra Ferguson, director of outreach and justice ministries for the Baltimore-Washington Conference. She is convinced The United Methodist Church could help end this epidemic that afflicts victims mostly in Africa.

'In our lifetime, we could eradicate this disease,' she said. 'We could affect a continent and end vast and needless suffering. We?re living in a time of tremendous possibility.'

The denomination recently embarked on an unprecedented partnership, titled Nothing But Nets, with the National Basketball Association?s NBA Cares, Sports Illustrated magazine, the United Nations Foundation and others.

Each year, more than a million people in Africa die of malaria, a disease carried by mosquitoes, Ferguson said. Seventy-five percent of them are children. But malaria is preventable and treatable.

'A $10 contribution has the potential to save a life,' Ferguson said. Seven dollars of that gift to Nothing But Nets pays for mosquito netting to cover people as they sleep, and $3 helps pay the salary of an educator who will teach families how to use the insecticide-treated bed nets.

According to the United Methodist News Service the campaign is the brainchild of Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly, who watched a television special on malaria in Africa.

He contacted Elizabeth McKee, director of marketing for the United Nations Foundation, who made him aware of the distribution methods her organization already had in effect for the insecticide-treated bed net.

In May, UMNS reported, Reilly wrote a column headlined 'Nothing But Nets,' in which he asked readers who 'have ever gotten a thrill by throwing, kicking, knocking, dunking, slamming, putting up, cutting down or jumping over a net' to donate money for bed nets. His 815-word effort raised $1.2 million.

The United Methodist Church, which has a history of fighting malaria in Africa, came on board to assist with publicity for the campaign.

In October and November, more than 150,000 bed nets were delivered to families in Nigeria.

Nothing But Nets and the United Methodist participation in the campaign was highlighted by the White House at a summit Dec. 14.

A Web site, (www.nothingbutnets.net) with news and background of the campaign and opportunities to contribute, provides all the details you need, Ferguson said.

She also marvels when she looks at the sponsors? logos at the bottom of the Web site. 'There are great organizations that shape our culture,' she said. 'It?s good to see the United Methodists among them. This is a great example of what can happen when the secular and religious cultures combine forces.'

While malaria has been eradicated in the U.S., nearly 500 million people, mostly in Africa, are infected each year, Ferguson said. 'For as little as $10, Nothing But Nets provides you with an opportunity to save lives.'

Make checks payable to 'Conference Treasurer,' mark 'Nothing but Nets,'Advance # 982015, and send to Baltimore-Washington Conference, 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite D, Columbia, MD 21046.