 "Photo: Adrienne Leslie")
For most people a mosquito bite is just a pesky, itchy bump on the skin that only lasts for about three days. But to someone living in Africa, a mosquito bite could mean long-term hospitalization and even death due to malaria. Whereas malaria has mostly been eradicated from many continents, or at least is under control, Africa is still devastated by it, with an increasing infection rate over the last three decades. More than 500 million people are infected by malaria each year, and one million of them die. In addition to the health problems and burdens on the health system, this disease costs Africa almost $12 billion in lost productivity each year.
One effective way to reduce the number of cases is to use bed nets, since the transmission of malaria occurs mostly at night. A family can sleep under a bed net, which acts as a physical and chemical barrier that protects them from malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The bed nets are treated with an insecticide, so if a community has enough bed nets, the mosquito population of the general area can be reduced in general, protecting those who don't have them as well.
The whole process of buying and distributing the bed nets to families with children under the age of 5 costs only $10 per bed net. Although $10 bed nets may not seem too high a price, they are out of reach for most people at risk of malaria in Africa, where many have to survive on less than $1 a day.
"Lack of awareness of the practicality of mosquito nets does not seem to be the issue in Uganda," said Pat Passarelli, A&S '10, who spent part of his summer there. "The problem is that most people cannot afford the nets displayed on ads throughout the country."
Due to the simplicity of stopping the spread of malaria, Rick Reilly, a columnist for Sports Illustrated, asked his readers for donations for the purchase of bed nets, and the response was incredible. From this was born Nothing But Nets, a grassroots campaign to prevent malaria that brought the issue to the fore front of the minds of Boston College students.
In the "Buzz Cut" competition sponsored by Nothing But Nets, 12 students from colleges nationwide each won a $500 grant to put together events to raise awareness and money for the issue.
Cecelia McDonald, A&S '10, came up with the idea of having the Bed-Net Ball after going to a conference sponsored by Nothing But Nets.
"I got involved with preventing malaria, because it's such a preventable disease, and it doesn't take much money to have a profound impact on a person's life," McDonald said. To publicize the event, McDonald wore a dress made of bed nets and walked around the Quad last Wednesday, much to the surprise the of students passing by.
The Bed-Net Ball transpired last Friday night at O'Connell House. The majestically lit entrance to the heart of the O'Connell House promised an amazing night - and it delivered. The decorations were a constant reminder of why everyone was there, as 100 yards of bed nets were used, strewn on the banisters and at the entrance.
The dance was DJed by Gabe Sikarov, A&S '10, and Rostic Gorbatov, a student from Brandeis University, who kept students' feet tirelessly moving for three hours.
The magical night was sponsored by Americans for Informed Democracy, and co-sponsored by RHA, Nights on the Heights, and O'Connell House.
"I had a fantastic time," said Lindsey Hennawi, one of the many satisfied philanthropists of the night, and A&S '11. "It was a great way to start off my time at BC because [the Bed-Net Ball] showed how much fun service to others can be."
The proceeds of ticket sales will be matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and more than 120 families will receive bed nets from the event.
There is a possibility that the Bed-Net Ball will become an annual event, since this year's event was such a success.
Students had an opportunity to dance the night away, while at the same time, providing bed nets for families that will be able to sleep safely and without worries.
But the Bed-Net Ball is not the end of the overall competition. Ten other schools, including Harvard and Wells College, received grants to put on their own events, such as a volleyball competition, a university-wide game of tag to demonstrate the infection rate, and a knitting event called Knitting for Nets.
Each school will post a YouTube video to inspire other schools to throw their own events to raise awareness and money. People will vote on the videos, and the winning school will receive an additional $500 reward.
And of course, this issue is not over; nets are still needed. So even though the Bed-Net Ball may be over, with the new knowledge that the event has provided for BC, the fight must continue.
For more information on malaria and ways to help, check out www.nothingbutnets.net, and invite others to donate through the netraiser team "Boston College."
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