It’s one thing to hear about a scary, serious global health problem like malaria on TV or in the news. It’s not a disease that we have much experience with anymore in the United States.
But for millions of families around the world, malaria is a real threat. It’s hard to believe that today, a child still dies every minute from this completely preventable disease. Countless mothers put their babies to bed at night and worry: Will my little girl be bitten by a malaria-carrying mosquito? How can I keep her safe? We met some of these mothers and listened to their stories on our recent trip to Rwanda with the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign.
WWE Divas Alicia Fox and Natalya Fox during their visit to Rwanda. They helped distribute bed nets to mothers and families, and visited health clinics and youth centers at the camps. Photo credit: Craig Ambrosio, WWE
Connecting with refugee women, who have so little, yet still have big hopes and dreams for their children, was indescribable. We’ll never forget their faces, their tiny mud homes with roofs made of plastic sheets, the hardships they face, the violence they’ve experienced. We’ll never forget joining them in dance, in song, exchanging hugs. We’ll never forget their beauty, and their dignity.
The United Nations Commission for Refugees does an amazing job providing these refugees safety and shelter. But the reality is, as more refugees flee fighting in Democratic Republic of the Congo—and war zones worldwide—there are never enough resources to go around. That’s why we came to Rwanda with Nothing But Nets to help, handing out bed nets to the pregnant women and young children most vulnerable to malaria.
A bed net won’t solve all refugees’ problems. But it is a simple, cheap way to keep these families safe from malaria as they sleep. After all they’ve been through, a life-saving net seems like the least we can do to make a real difference. We learned how the U.S. has been a global leader in fighting malaria, and that deaths from the disease are dropping. Everyone can help keep that momentum going! Our partner Nothing But Nets showed us how easy it is for anyone to save a life. We’re proud WWE is part of the fight against malaria, and we want to urge everyone—our fans, our friends, you—to send a net and save a life. Giving changed our lives. It’ll change yours, too.
Natalya and Alicia Fox are WWE Divas. WWE is a partner of the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign. Learn more at NothingButNets.net.
