Are ITNs the straw?
We know that providing an ITN to a family keeps the whole family healthier and more productive. We know that kids absorb nutrition better when an ITN is in the house. We know that ITNs will probably save a million lives a year when most families in Africa have them.

Lift The Straw

Straws are really small and light. A proverbial straw broke the camel's back. What happens when we lift a straw? What if we lift a whole bale of straws?

Lifting the straw makes the camel's load lighter. Camels sit to get loaded. An overloaded camel will not stand up. Lift enough of the burden, lift enough straws and the camel will stand up and get moving.

The bundle of inputs that the Measles Campaign provides could lift a bale of proverbial straw from the back of the system. Which straw matters?

Is Measles the Straw? The disease of Measles killed about 400,000 children in Africa in 2000. By 2005, that death toll should drop well under 100,000 and may be approaching 10,000.

Is Vitamin A the straw? The Measles Campaign also distributes Vitamin A supplement to children. Vitamin A prevents mental retardation and helps children develop.

Is Deworming the straw? The Measles Campaign distributes mebendazole with its campaigns. Mebendazole deworms the children of intestinal parasites common in areas with measles. Children absorb food better when their stomachs are not filled with worms. Is the straw we lift related to nutrition?

Are ITNs the straw? We know that providing an ITN to a family keeps the whole family healthier and more productive. We know that kids absorb nutrition better when an ITN is in the house. We know that ITNs will probably save a million lives a year when most families in Africa have them.

Are any of these the straw? Let's lift these straws now and be strategic about the order we lift them. When trying to lighten the load, don't throw out the light stuff! Let's tackle nets as an intervention now since it will drastically lighten the load. See our page on What Next for other inputs to follow. Also see the Lancet article on How Many Child Deaths Can We Prevent This Year for an analysis of inverventions.