The Souter Charitable Trust today announced a US$1 million donation to the UK charity the Against Malaria Foundation to fund long-lasting insecticide treated nets to protect people at risk from malaria.
This is one of the Trust's single largest donations to date.
Betty and Brian Souter commented:
"Malaria is a devastating killer of children under 5 and pregnant women. Yet a simple bed net can protect those at risk from falling sick and suffering or dying from the disease. These nets will protect half a million people.
Important progress has been made in the fight against malaria over the last five years but funds for nets are still desperately needed.
The trust's purpose/mission is to support projects for the relief of human suffering and we have chosen the Against Malaria Foundation as the recipient of this donation because they are a highly effective charity in the ongoing efforts to combat malaria. They have a strong focus on transparency, accountability and efficiency in the way they operate. 100% of the funds we have donated will buy nets."
Rob Mather of the Against Malaria Foundation said:
"This is a fantastic donation which will allow us to protect half a million people as they sleep at night.
More specifically, the nets will be distributed from mid December 2011 to mid February 2012 in one of the 28 districts of Malawi to achieve universal coverage – all sleeping spaces covered – of a population of some 550,000 people. We expect this to have a significant impact in reducing malaria rates in a very badly affected area."
Press Release (pdf 17.58 kb)