Malawi, Ntcheu District, net use assessment 12-month post-distribution
 The second post-distribution net use survey was conducted in Ntcheu District during April/May 2013. 9,250 households across all 37 health centre catchment areas in the district were visited, unannounced, to assess net use and condition. The data were published as they were being entered in Malawi. We have now received the summary document from Concern Universal in Malawi who coordinated the survey and worked closely with the district health team who carried it out.
The results are very strong, showing high levels of net use and nets in very good condition.
12-month net use and condition survey:
- 85% of nets are hung and in use
- 89% of the nets are still in 'very good' condition (fewer than two holes of up to 2 cms in size)
6-month net use and condition survey, for comparison:
- 90% of nets are hung and in use
- 99% of the nets are still in 'very good' condition (fewer than two holes of up to 2 cms in size)
The specific nature of the data - at the health centre level - means the District Health Officer (DHO), health centre leaders, community leaders and other health workers are able to decide what targeted malaria control intervention might be appropriate in specific areas. The data suggests targeted campaigns in 14 of the 37 health centre areas, focusing on the importance of hanging and using all nets, would be of benefit.
In circumstances where health systems and resources are stretched, information that assists with targeted interventions can help with effective use of resources and that is the aim of this information.
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An update on distributions being assessed
 We have just updated our future distributions page showing the progress made in assessing a number of potential distributions with several nearing full approval status.
You can view the current status of each distribution with visual and summary updates.
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Update: Visit to Sierra Leone
 We recently visited Sierra Leone and a final phase of discussions now focuses on accountability elements.
AMF has offered to fund up to 3.1 million nets for the upcoming 3.4 million net nationwide universal coverage net distribution in Sierra Leone.
Significant discussions have been taking place over the last four months. AMF may provide between 2 million and 3.1 million nets. Non-net costs are in place.
Rob Mather and Richard Lane have just returned from a series of meetings in Freetown with the Sierra Leone National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) and other malaria control partners.
Accountability - data and verification - and transparency are very important to us to ensure an effective, and demonstrably effective, distribution and those are the details we are following up on now.
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LLINs are now close to US$3 per net
 Over the last five years or so the cost of a long-lasting insecticide treated net (LLIN) has come down from US$5 per net through US$4 per net to now close to US$3 per net.
We believe the drop in cost per net is in part due to an increase in volume of net orders (the global quantity of LLINs distributed over the last few years has been approximately as follows: 2004: 6m, 2005: 19m, 2006: 54m, 2007: 50m, 2008: 69m, 2009: 102m, 2010: 166m, 2011: 131m, 2012: 85m) and increased competition (there are now more WHOPES Phase 2 approved nets) which has had a downward pressure on prices.
While the actual cost of a particular LLIN will vary according to size, shape, insecticide composition and brand, the most frequently distributed nets are large, family-sized nets which cost between US$2.80 and US$4.50.
In our experience, non-net costs typically amount to US$1 to US$1.5 per net. Non-net costs means all costs for shipping and transport, all pre-distribution activities (including household-level surveys to establish net need), net distribution (including malaria education activities and independent supervision), and post-distribution activities (including monitoring of monthly malaria case rate data and 6-monthly post-distribution surveys over a three year period post-distribution).
We are sometimes asked what profit the manufacturers of nets make on the nets they produce. We do not know the answer to this question albeit we would be interested in knowing.
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The impact of Peter Singer's recent TED talk
 Peter Singer gave a TED talk recently in which AMF featured prominently. The talk was made public ten days ago and the impact on donations has been noticeable, particularly the number of recurring donations set up.
Typically, 5% of donations made to AMF are recurring. In the last ten days, the proportion of recurring donations has been 43%.
The donations made specifically as a result of Peter's TED talk so far total $65,700. Adding (potential) recurring donations during the next 11 months of $49,400 would amount to $115,100 in 10 days. This equates to 38,000 nets = 68,000 people protected.
AMF now has 964 recurring donations contributing a total of $54,000 a month, equating to an annualised $580,000 on a trailing three-month basis. You can see the latest recurring donation figures on our Behind the scenes page.
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$18 million milestone passed!
 We have now passed the $18 million mark, thanks to a donor from Boston, USA!
We also reached our 63,00th donor too! Our sincere thanks to everyone for their support and generosity.
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Provisional allocation of 3.54 million nets
 We have provisionally allocated a number of donations to two potential distributions, one in Senegal (440,000 LLINs) and one in Sierra Leone (3.1 million LLINs).
We are far advanced with discussions with the respective National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs) and other in-country partners and, in such circumstances, it is appropriate to allocate donations so it is clear which funds would be used to purchase the nets. If all proceeds positively, we would expect to approve purchase of the nets in the coming weeks and add details and documentation to the distribution pages.
In Senegal, we have had very productive discussions to date with the Programme National de Lutte contre le Paludisme (PNLP) who share our approach of conducting data-driven, verification-led distributions. All elements we consider important in carrying out a distribution have been agreed. We are now discussing implementation details. The net gap required for achieving universal coverage in four districts in Southern Senegal is some 660,000 nets. As additional funds are received it is possible we will fund further nets.
In Sierra Leone, 3.4 million nets are needed for a country-wide campaign to replace nets distributed in 2010 so the population remains protected. AMF has offered to fund 3.1 million nets after detailed discussions with the NMCP and other partners. The NMCP has indicated a strong commitment to transparency and data in conducting the distribution. A final round of discussions with partners will take place in-county in the next two weeks.
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Peter Singer: Effective Altruism
Peter Singer talks about effective altruism and donating to Against Malaria in his latest TED talk.
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Progress made with discussions in Senegal
.jpg) A significant distribution in Senegal is a step closer with very good recent progress in discussions with the Senegal National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) who share AMF's data-driven and verification-based methodology for net distributions.
See our list of Future Distributions.
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An update on distributions being assessed
 More progress has been made in assessing a number of future distributions with several nearing full approval status.
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Twelve month post-distribution survey in Malawi under way
 Continued use of nets is very important and every six months a post-distribution survey is carried out to assess net usage and net condition. The data collected are used to determine if additional community-level malaria education activities are required. All data are published.
The six months post-distribution survey for Ntcheu, Malawi, of 7,657 households and 15,768 nets showed a hang-up (usage) level of 90% and the percentage of nets in a very good condition of 99% (ninety nine).
The twelve months survey is now under way and the results are being entered as the survey forms come in. You can see the data, which is being updated in real time, on the summary page. The data will then be checked before being added to the main Ntcheu distribution page.
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Disappointing results from malaria vaccine trial
 Everyone involved in malaria control has a fervent wish a malaria vaccine is found.
Recent results from an ongoing trial are therefore disappointing.
The trial’s report concludes: ‘The efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E vaccine over the 4-year period was 16.8%. Efficacy declined over time and with increasing malaria exposure.’
Reuters reports: ‘The disappointing results for RTS,S - the world's first potential malaria vaccine - raise further questions about whether it can make a difference in the fight against the disease, a major cause of illness and death among children in sub-Saharan Africa. "The results are kind of disappointing because we'd all like to see a malaria vaccine that has closer to 80 percent or 100 percent efficacy," said Christopher Plowe, a malaria researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the United States, who was not involved in the RTS,S trial. There is currently no vaccine that offers complete protection against malaria. Control measures such as insecticide-treated bednets, indoor spraying and anti-malaria drugs have helped cut malaria cases and deaths significantly in recent years, but drug resistance is growing and experts say an effective vaccine could be a vital tool in eradicating the disease.’
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Triple milestone!
 We have just passed $17m raised, 4 million nets funded and our 60,000th donation!
Thank you for your support which has helped protect many people from malaria.
The next two milestones we hope to reach are:
- 500,000 people participating/ed in fundraising initiatives - currently we are at 476,028. If you could organise a fundraising activity - be it just you, or a group of friends or some people at work - please do! An opportunity to have fun too.
- Increasing our base of recurring donations from $40,000 per month to $80,000 a month, so we can approach $1m per year. Recurring donations help us plan and 100% buys nets and we include more information here.
Thank you again,
Rob
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Future distributions - updated
We have recently made significant progress in assessing a number of future distributions.
You can view the current status of each distribution with visual and summary updates on our future distributions page.
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Non-net costs
 For the first time AMF is funding non-nets costs for a distribution i.e. costs beyond those of just the nets themselves. It is not expected this will become the norm or indeed be repeated. The funding for non-net costs will NOT come from public donations to AMF. Our promise that '100% of the funds you donate will buy nets' still stands. They will instead be covered by donor/s who have arranged with us to donate for this specific purpose. We explain here why we are doing this.
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Details of recently approved distributions
 We have approved a distribution of 235,000 LLINs to the two districts of Balaka and Dedza in Malawi. Both districts are badly affected by malaria. These nets will be distributed form March to July 2013 and will achieve universal coverage - coverage of all sleeping spaces - across both districts. Each net protects close to two people. Our distribution partner for this distribution is Concern Universal.
You can view the details of the Balaka and Dedza distributions on our website.
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$16 million milestone passed!
 We have now passed the $16 million mark, thanks to a donor from Ridgefield, Connecticut, USA!
Our sincere thanks to everyone for their support and generosity over the past month.
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A great start to 2013
 Only one week after passing the $14 million mark we have just passed the $15 million mark! What a great start to the year.
We are also about to pass through 57,000 donors too. You can see all our milestones on the website.
Best wishes to all for 2013.
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$14 million and 55 thousand donors
 We have just reached the $14 million milestone, only a few weeks after passing $13 million!
We have received donations both large and small and every $4 matters as every net matters.
100% of the funds we have received will buy nets and all donors will be able to see exactly where the nets they fund are distributed.
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$13 million raised and 3 million nets funded so far
 We have just passed the $13 million mark, thanks to a donor from San Francisco, USA!
Every donation from every person counts as the total of $13,120,514 from over 54,000 donations and transactions, in 168 countries, indicates. 100% buys nets.
That's 3,038,427 nets, protecting more than 5 million people.
Thank you!
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